2 masterminds: Bantag still in the country, Zulueta in hiding

Suspended Bureau of Corrections chief, Director General Gerald Q. Bantag, and BuCor deputy security head Ricardo Soriano Zulueta face two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of broadcaster Percival Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito Villamor.

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police yesterday filed cases against Bantag, Zulueta, and other respondents, citing vital information obtained from Villamor's sister and several inmates at the New Bilibid Prison.

Charged with Mabasa's murder were Bantag and Zulueta as principals by inducement.

Also charged as principals by indispensable cooperation were Denver Batungbakal Mayores, a trusted aide of Bantag; and gang leaders Alvin Cornista Labra of Batang City Jail; Aldrin Micosa Galicia of Sputnik Gang and Alfie Penaredonda of Happy Go-Lucky are likewise charged.

Bantag and Zulueta were also charged with the murder of Villamor along with Labra, Galicia, Mario Germones Alvarez and Joseph Mede Georfo.

Alvarez, a Sputnik member, allegedly instructed five people to kill Villamor while Georfo was the one who relayed the instruction to Alvarez.

Those who participated in the killing of Villamor were also included in the murder complaint, namely: Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan de la Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes, all Sputnik members.

"The principle that we adopted here in charging the mastermind is the totality of all the facts given to us by all the witnesses and all the circumstances attendant to the killing. So it's a totality test. It's not for us to point out the direct link but the totality of all the acts points out to the participation of and responsibility of those being charged," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said during a press conference.

Remulla said that prosecutors will subpoena Bantag along with several others to refute the charges filed against them.

"No subpoena was issued. That will come later on because the case was filed already. That will be the fiscal's call," Remulla said. "The fear of Gen. Bantag is just tremendous and unbelievable from the eyes of these PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) so that maybe we can say that we thought it best that in conducting the preliminary investigation that we let Gen. Bantag answer the charges formally with the fiscal's office."

Despite the absence of an arrest warrant, Remulla appealed to Bantag and Zuleta to come forward.

"I'd like to ask Zulueta and Bantag to surrender and face the charges. If they are innocent, the law will uphold them. If they are guilty, they have to face the consequences. It's hard to fall from grace, especially from a high perch," he said.

In the same press conference attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. disclosed that Zulueta has gone into hiding a few days ago.

Remulla said a lookout bulletin order will likely be issued against Bantag and Zulueta. It cannot prevent them from leaving the country, but it will alert authorities.

Interviewed later on television, Remulla said Bantag is still in the country.

Dying declaration

A breakthrough in the investigation came after Villamor's sister surfaced and revealed her brother's alleged dying declaration.

Marissa (not her real name) shared the messages she received from his brother through Facebook messenger to investigators where he revealed the names of three prison gang leaders who should be held responsible in the event he is killed.

Authorities immediately secured Labra, Peñaredonda and Galicia, the names mentioned by Villamor in his dying declaration.

Another suspect named by a confidential informant was also transferred to NBI custody.

"There, they revealed all. The relevant information is within the hands of the NBI and PNP," the statement read.

It added: "In sum, all the statements given by the PDLs and gunman Joel Escorial, coupled with evidence, corroborate as to the material facts needed to prove the two counts of murder."

Bantag, Zulueta masterminds

The joint investigation showed that both Bantag and Zulueta were behind the killing of both Mabasa and Villamor.

"The sworn statements of the PDLs show a clear and direct line of communication from the Director-General and DSO Ricardo Zulueta to Denver Mayores who communicated with Alvin Labra who then coordinated with Aldrin Galicia who then orchestrated and executed the killing of Percy Lapid through his Gang members and his Gang members' contacts on the outside ultimately ending with gunman Joel Escorial and his group," the statement read.

Mayores is an inmate at Ihawig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan.

Bantag, the NBI and PNP said, had a clear motive to effect the murders.

Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid, had been Bantag's arch-critic in his show, "Lapid Fire."

"This is evident from the video sent by DSO Zulueta to Denver Mayores which was later forwarded to both Alvin Labra and Aldrin Galicia," investigators said.

The killing of Villamor, on the other hand, was an attempt to cover up the murder of Mabasa.

"This sequence of events implies that the conspirators planned all along to silence Jun Villamor and cover up the crime, perhaps even before Joel Escorial's surrender," a press statement read.

The investigation also showed "a similarly clear and direct line of communication" from Bantag and Zulueta to Mayores who communicated with the gang leaders the plan to execute Villamor.

"This time, Jun Villamor was suffocated to death by a plastic bag and held by his own gang members," the statement added.

It added: "This unique circumstance shows that the order came from a high official of the BuCor. One usually seeks refuge and protection from his own gang members. The fact that they killed one of their own means indicates that there were instructions from the top and the gang simply had no choice but to execute."

Investigators also established the money trails that matched the testimony of confessed gunman Joel Escorial who claimed he received P550,000 as contract money. Cash deposits totaling the same amount were recorded during the period of 15 September 2022 and 7 October 2022.

"This concerted and coordinated effort of both the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government is a war against impunity and the continuous and gross disregard of the rule of law," it added.

With the filing of the murder charges against Bantag et al, the case is 95 percent solved, Remulla said.