Ombudsman junks Bantag’s murder raps against Remulla, Catapang

The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Bureau of Corrections Director-General Gregorio Catapang of the murder and grave misconduct complaints filed by erstwhile Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag in connection with the slaying of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid in October last year.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires junked Bantag's complaint filed back in January on the grounds that it lacked "probable cause" and "substantial evidence."

Bantag accused Remulla of orchestrating the murder of Lapid and likewise having a hand in the death of the purported middleman, Jun Villamor.

In January, the ex-BuCor chief sought the immediate preventive suspension of Remulla and Catapang as a purported precautionary measure to prevent them from using their positions to "exert undue influence or pressure on the possible witnesses and the possible tampering of evidence that may come from their respective offices in the course of the investigation."

Bantag claimed that Remulla had the incentive to order Lapid's murder following the broadcaster's critical remarks about the Secretary, which aired a few days before he was shot by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Las Pinas City.

He likewise dragged Catapang, alleging that he was complicit in granting authorization for the relocation of prisoners from the New Bilibid Prison to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The DoJ lauded the Ombudsman's verdict, asserting that the case was "nothing more than a political maneuver" and "merely a ploy to overshadow the murder charges that Bantag is currently facing."

"The course of justice cannot be manipulated or swayed by tactics of distraction or defamation. It is a process that respects the truth above all else and is vigilant against any attempts to undermine its credibility and impartiality," the DoJ said.

"'Now that the distraction of the harassment case is behind us, it is time for former Director General Bantag to face the music. The serious charges against him deserve the full attention of the court and the public. We are confident that the truth will prevail and justice will be served," it added.

Bantag, who has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killings, remains at large.

Other respondents in the dismissed complaint were persons deprived of liberty German Agojo, Alfie Penaredonda, Aldrin Galicia, Mario Alvarez and Alvin Labra.