PERCY LAPID CASE | PNP considers Bantag, Zulueta as fugitives after court orders arrest

April 17, 2023 , 10:20 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(April 17, 2023) – The Philippine National Police has said a former prisons chief and his former deputy are now considered fugitives after two local courts issued arrest warrants for the murder of a radio commentator and the alleged middleman.

Police Colonel Redrico Maranan, the head of the Philippine National Police-Public Information Office, said law enforcers have been continuously searching for former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.

“Yes, [Bantag and Zulueta are] fugitives from law,” said Maranan in a message to News5.

Bantag and Zulueta were charged with murder before the Las Pinas and Muntinlupa regional trial courts for the death of Percival Mabasa and Jun Villamor, the alleged broker who arranged the killing.

Murder is a non-bailable charge.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had said they have “a general idea” on the whereabouts of Bantag and Zulueta.

Aside from the two, the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 254 also sought the arrest of Israel Dimaculangan, Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain person alias “Orly” or “Orlando” who are also tagged in the killing of Mabasa.

Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman of Mabasa, claimed he worked with “Orly” and the Dimaculangan brothers in carrying out the journalist’s assassination near the gate of a subdivision in Las Piñas last October 3. According to Escorial, “Orly” was the one who relayed the orders allegedly originating from the New Bilibid Prison.

“Kung sino ang matapat kay Percy, siya ang babaril. Nagkataon natapat sa akin. Ang sabi naman, ‘pag hindi ko binaril, ako naman ang papatayin. Kaya binaril ko na si Percy,” said Escorial when he was presented to the media on October 18.

Last October, Mabasa’s family also filed a murder complaint against Escorial and his accomplices before the DOJ. Up to now, the authorities have yet to find “Orly” and the Dimaculangan siblings.

Villamor, the alleged middleman in the Mabasa killing, died shortly after Escorial was presented to the media in what prison authorities initially said was caused by health issues but an autopsy later revealed as caused by asphyxiation.

Mabasa’s family welcomed the courts’ arrest orders as they continue seeking justice for the broadcaster’s death.

“I hope Gerald Bantag et al would heed the call of authorities and present themselves in the court of law,” Roy Mabasa, the brother of the slain journalist, was quoted as saying in a report by Inquirer.net.

Media groups sounded the alarm over the killing of Lapid since he was the second journalist who died under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., reiterating the need to end impunity.

(MM)

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