Daily TribuneHe said the panel of prosecutors is chaired by Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza Torrevillas with Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Charlie L. Guhit and Josie Christina Dugay as members
The Department of Justice has formed a three-member panel of prosecutors to conduct the preliminary investigation of the two murder complaints filed relative to the killings of broadcaster Percy Lapid and inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña.
This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered authorities to take a closer look into the double murder cases.
Marcos made the remark after the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday filed murder complaints against suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and others in relation to Lapid's death.
"We're trying to make sure that we know exactly what this is all about. The more we look, the worse it gets. This fellow is — it's too deadly," Marcos told reporters in a chance interview while on board PR001 en route to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday.
The charges that will undergo preliminary investigation are the ones filed last 7 November against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag, BuCor's Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta, and several persons deprived of liberty.
Principals by inducement
Bantag and Zulueta were charged as "principals by inducement" in the two killings.
Also charged in the Percy Lapid killing as "principals by indispensable cooperation" were PDLs Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia and Alfie Penaredonda.
Those who were charged for the killing of Villamor who were also charged as "principals by direct participation" were PDLs Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan de la Cruz and Joel Alog Reyes.
The two murder complaints will be consolidated with the first complaint filed by the Philippine National Police last 18 October against self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial and his three alleged accomplices — brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a person identified only as "Orly" or "Orlando."
Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento yesterday said that with the creation of the panel, subpoenas will be issued to Bantag and his co-respondents in the two murder complaints.
They will be ordered to appear before the panel and to respond to the accusations against them, Malcontento said.
He said the panel of prosecutors is chaired by Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza Torrevillas with Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Charlie L. Guhit and Josie Christina T. Dugay as members.
Guhit was the one initially assigned to handle the murder complaint filed against Escorial and his alleged accomplices.
The President said he was bothered by the alleged involvement of Bantag in the case, more especially as preliminary investigation reports pointed at the BuCor chief as the crime's mastermind.
"I was talking about this to DoJ Secretary (Jesus Crispin) Remulla and DILG (Benhur) Abalos and they said — he's really — he's the one who ordered the killing… and he's been doing it in prison. He was like a god inside the penitentiary," Marcos said.
"That's terrible. I guess he established his own fiefdom there in the prison. He moved with… he acted with no fear of being punished," he stressed.
Marcos said authorities must not stop investigating until all witnesses and persons involved in the crime are captured and determine how the BuCor officials were allegedly able to commit such a crime.
"We'll just keep going until we're satisfied. Right now, because we haven't spoken to all of the named suspects, middlemen, masterminds — the investigation hasn't been closed," he said.
Additional evidence
The other day (Wednesday, 9 November), Remulla said that additional evidence would be presented to the DoJ against Bantag in the killing of Lapid.
Remulla said he was told that Bantag rushed back to his house in Laguna last 9 September because Percy Lapid was taking videos and photos of Bantag's house and his vehicles.
Last 9 September, Remulla said that Bantag was supposed to attend the graduation ceremony at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for persons deprived of liberty who took courses provided by the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.
"It's a significant lead that he was absent on that day because on that day Percy Lapid went to his house to examine, to take pictures of his house and his vehicles," Remulla said.
Remulla explained that Lapid had come out with an expose about a "Cinderalla Man" which was shown on his program "Lapid Fire" back in September.
He noted that all of the board of trustees of the university were present during the graduation ceremony last 9 September except for Bantag who did not return.
The president's order to continue with investigation on the killings gave their kins hope.
Lapid's brother, Roy Mabasa said they welcome the president's order as it would mean authorities would get to the bottom of the case.
"In fact, we are happy, when this morning President Marcos himself said the investigation will continue," Mabasa said.
Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on 3 October while Villamor died at the New Bilibid Prison.
Autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a "history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation."
The NBI had said both Bantag and Zulueta are still in the country and it is seeking to file a hold departure order against them.
As per the closed-circuit television footages, Mabasa said it showed that gang leaders at the NBP were called by Zulueta in his office.
Grounded personnel
Meanwhile, Remulla said there are 65 Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel who were grounded from the New Bilibid Prison.
The justice chief said the contract between the DoJ, BJMP and BuCor lapsed last September and it was renewed.
The freeze order was issued by Bucor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang that paved the way for talking of PDLs.
"When the BJMP personnel was suspended and their contract was renewed when it lapsed, the PDLs started to talk because they are afraid when they are still around," Remulla said.
On the other hand, the DoJ is still awaiting the full report of the AMLC as it only submitted 95 percent of its report on the bank transactions made by people to pay the assailants of Lapid.
Remulla said the 5 percent is critical to them because it would pave the way on who really are involved in financing the hit against the broadcaster.
"In the 5 percent there are people underneath, we want the financial mechanism behind the contract," Remulla said.
Michelle Guillang
@tribunephl_mish
