The family of slain journalist Percy Lapid and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla shrugged off the rants and claims of suspended Bureau of Correction Director, General Gerald Bantag, the alleged mastermind in the killing, in a broadcast interview last Friday as an attempt to muddle the issue.

Roy Mabasa, Percy's brother, also appealed to the public not to be distracted by what he warned as diversionary tactics.

Mabasa, who acts as spokesperson of the family, said in a post on his Facebook page that Bantag should focus and help on the investigation of the case instead of spreading unfounded allegations.

Remulla, meanwhile, described Bantag's latest tirade as coming from someone with "a misguided sense of betrayal."

Bantag earlier appeared in Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy's SMNI Network in what was billed as a tell-all interview.

He called on Remulla to step down as head of the Department of Justice's for allegedly bungling the Lapid probe.

Bantag also pointed to a convicted drug lord, German Agojo, as the alleged boss of the confessed gunman, Joel Escorial, and middleman Crisanto Villamor.

Remulla in a short message advised Bantag "not (to) muddle the issue, not (to) clutch at straws."

The DoJ chief is in Switzerland to represent the government during the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Nonetheless, Remulla said that evidence collated by investigators, and the testimonies provided by a dozen of persons of interest have pointed to Bantag's complicity in the apparent execution.

"Nobody wanted the evidence to point to Director-General Bantag. The DoJ understands the predicament of Bantag. His words and actions, no matter how personal and inappropriate, come from a misguided sense of betrayal," Remulla said.

Remulla bared that there was a long list of persons considered persons of interest in the Lapid murder, including several politicians.

Roy Mabasa, a veteran journalist, also demanded Bantag abide by the law and follow the judicial process and present his side in the proper forum.

He also challenged Bantag to help convince Jail Officer Ricardo Zulueta to come out of hiding and face charges.

In his statement, Mabasa expressed his continued confidence in the DoJ, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police as well as the Commission on Human Rights for their hard work to contribute to resolving the case.

He added that their family will forever be indebted to the listeners of "Ka Percy who have not left our side in our quest for justice."

He demanded that Bantag follow the rule of law. "We appeal to the public to not be distracted by what might be diversionary tactics. Let's focus on the proper investigation of the case."

"We demand that Bantag abides by the rule of law, follow the judicial process, and present his side in the proper forum. We also challenge him to help convince his deputy, Jail Officer Zulueta, to come out of hiding and face the charges," he added.

More mysteries crop up

Mysteries continue to hound the New Bilibid Prison as an offshoot of the focus on the maximum security penitentiary amid the controversy sparked by the Lapid killing that was traced by prison officials and inmates.

Prison officials revealed the discovery of a tunnel but they couldn't say whether it was used for the escape of prisoners or was dug in the search for gold. The revelation came after the recent discovery of 176 bodies of alleged detainees stored and unclaimed in a funeral home since December 2021.

The Commission on Human Rights said the recent discovery is a cause for serious concern.

Reports quoting the manager of the funeral home accredited by the BuCor shared that they received the cadavers of prisoners who allegedly died of natural causes and not Covid-19 while inside the NBP.

BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the passage was part of an excavation located close to the quarters of the BuCor director general.

He said the excavation started in 2019, but he did not specify whether the excavation happened during the time of BuCor director general Nicanor Faeldon or Gerald Bantag, who took over in September of that year.

Senator Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa wanted an investigation on the discovered tunnel.

"We will look at that, we will investigate if this violated laws. Number 1 is environmental law or graft and corrupt practices or whatever laws that are possibly violated due to this kind of activity," he said in an interview over the DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday,

All angle probed

De la Rosa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, does not rule out any possibility for the excavation.

"We will ask why did they do that because there might be a purpose and they might justify what they did. But then again laws must be observed, and followed," he said.

De la Rosa said there must be a reason why the tunnel is as deep as 30-meters and 200-meters wide.

WITH LADE KABAGANI AND CHERK BALAGTAS
@tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_cherk