Wants more thorough probe on Lapid slay case
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and ASHZEL HACHERO
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday expressed doubt that one of the suspects in the murder of veteran radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa died of “natural causes” and said he wants a more thorough investigation.
“I am still not satisfied that it was natural causes. So sabi ko, tingnan niyo nang mabuti because there are ways to kill a person that do not show up in the medico legal (examination). So tuloy-tuloy pa ang imbestigasyon (I am still not satisfied that it was natural causes. So I said look it thoroughly because there are ways to kill a person that do not show up in the medico legal. So the investigations are continuing),” the President said at the sidelines of the National Information and Communications Technology Summit 2022 at the Manila Hotel.
The suspect, tagged as a “middleman” by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial, was an inmate of the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) where he was found dead hours after Escorial was presented to the media on October 18. Escorial surrendered the day before when he also named his cohorts.
The middleman’s death was announced by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on October 20, who also said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was conducting an autopsy on Jun Villamor.
Initial autopsy findings showed, among others, “no apparent sign of external physical injury,” which some officials said could indicate the middleman died of natural causes or absence of foul play.
The NBI has not made public a full report on the autopsy.
A second autopsy requested by Lapid’s family is being conducted by top forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.
“She will come up with a written report by Friday,” Remulla said.
Marcos said ongoing investigations on the October 3 ambush-slay on Lapid should be able to determine who ordered the hit, and who and how Villamor contacted Escorial.
“Trace saan nanggaling ito (where it came from). Who gave the order… at bakit (and why). That is what we are working on now,” he added.
Remulla yesterday said at least eight persons linked to the killing are now under the custody of the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Remulla said Villamor, “Marisa” who is the sister of the alleged middleman, and other persons Marisa identified when she sought the assistance of the DOJ have all been secured by the NBI and the PNP.
He said Villamor’s cousin and another supposed middleman — Christopher Bacoto — is part of the seven.
The existence of a second middleman was made public by the PNP only after the death of Villamor who had been expected to give information on the hit.
Bacoto is with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as he is still under trial on drug-related offenses.
‘BOSS’
Remulla, in an interview at the NBP, said all persons named by Marisa have been secured.
“Seven na ngayon because I gave another name who is also already in custody,” Remulla told reporters later Wednesday, adding four of them are under the care of the NBI while three are with the PNP.
Remulla said one more is under military custody and will be transferred to the NBI. He said he is the “alleged boss” of Escorial and Villamor.
“He’s in custody. He’s in military custody now but we will transfer him to the NBI,” he added.
Authorities are still looking for brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan and one Orly or Orlando who were identified by Escorial as his companions.
“We’re waiting for them to surrender. And of course, we are also looking at the mastermind, the possible mastermind,” Remulla said.
Asked if the possible mastermind is among those in custody and if Villamor’s sister has identified the mastermind, Remulla said he cannot just speculate but that they continue to look at all possible angles in the case.
“Posibleng iba pa. We are looking at all angles. I have to be in conference with the NBI about it and I will also speak to the PNP,” he said.
“I think it’s unfair to speculate,” he added.
“Marisa” surfaced on Monday and told authorities of messages that her brother supposedly sent to her before his death on October 18, hours after Escorial revealed that he was given the kill order by someone from the NBP.
In the message, Villamor said the killing of Lapid was ordered by the leaders of “Sputnik,” “Happy Go Lucky” and “Batang City Jail” gangs on the instruction of the “office,” referring to the NBP. She has since been placed under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Remulla said aside from “Marisa,” another sister of Villamor has been placed under the WPP. He did not say what information she provided to the DOJ.
Remulla said Marisa received the dying declaration message from their brother.
“Her testimony is very important because she was a recipient of a text message which is a form of a dying declaration,” Remulla told reporters, adding that Villamor was aware of the danger he was facing when he messaged his sister around two hours before he was declared dead.
Under the Rules on Evidence, a dying declaration made under the consciousness of impending death may be received in case his death is the subject of inquiry.
Remulla also said the mobile phone used by Villamor inside the national penitentiary to communicate with the other suspects in the killing of Lapid has yet to be located by authorities.
To address the “perennial problem” of inmates being able to get hold of mobile phones even under detention, Remulla said he directed BuCor OIC Gregorio Catapang to procure K-9 dogs that can “sniff out everything that has to be sniffed out.”
NOTHING TO GAIN
Suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag denied involvement in the killing and also said he is open to a lifestyle check amid reports he owns numerous vehicles and a mansion.
“Kung ‘yun po ang hinihingi eh di ‘yun po ang ibibigay natin (If that is what they are asking for, then it is what I will give),” Bantag told radio dxBB.
On the vehicles, he said those parked near his house are not all his. He said six of them are owned by the BuCor and provided for his use and of his security escorts.
He said the others are owned by his neighbors who asked him if they could park their vehicles on a lot near his house.
Bantag said he returned the Innova and the Grandia vehicles to the BuCor on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Mabasa family through their lawyer Berteni “Toto” Causing said authorities should also look into Bantag’s possible involvement in the case considering he was one of the personalities criticized by the slain commentator on his “Lapid Fire” program on radio DWBL 1242.
Causing said Lapid mentioned in one episode that Bantag has 21 vehicles and a P50 million mansion.
Bantag said he has nothing to gain from Lapid’s killing.
He said he has become used to criticisms since he started working in public service, from jail warden to regional director of the BJMP and as BuCor chief since 2019.
“Wala akong kinalaman diyan. Anong mapapala ko diyan? Nagtagal na tayo sa BuCor, ang dami namang bumatikos sa ating mga blogger na ganyan. Wala namang namamatay na ganon sa kanila (I’m not behind it. What would I gain from it? I have been in BuCor for a long time and many bloggers have criticized but none of them were killed),” he said in another interview over radio dzRH.
Bantag blamed drug lords detained at the NBP for his suspension as BuCor chief. He said the drug lords have been affected by the crackdown on illegal activities inside the national penitentiary when he assumed the top post.
“Makapangyarihan itong mga drug lords at mga sindikato. Ano nga ba ang sabi ng ating dating presidente? Narco-politics at malapit na tayo sa ganyan (These drug lords and syndicates are powerful. And what did our former president say? Narco-politics and narco-politics are almost here),” he said.
Reached for comment, Remulla said he understands Bantag’s feelings but has yet to talk to him after the preventive suspension.
THREATS
Senate deputy minority leader Risa asked authorities to track down the unidentified man who made a series of calls and messages threatening and extorting money from members of the Lapid family.
The threats were earlier disclosed by Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa.
In a press conference, Hontiveros said she learned of the threats and extortion from the unidentified man after she visited the family last Monday. She said Lapid’s children said they received phone calls from an unidentified man from October 22 to 24, saying Roy and one of their siblings, are the next targets for assassination.
One of Lapid’s children managed to record the phone conversation and saved screenshots of the messages.
Hontiveros played the audio recording of one of the conversations between Lapid’s daughter and the unidentified man during the press conference.
When Lapid’s daughter asked who he was, the unidentified man said: “Hindi na kailangan. Sabihin mo kay Roy Mabasa, nanganganib ang buhay niya, pati ang buhay ni Mark Mabasa (No need [to know who I am). Tell Roy Mabasa that his life is in danger, even the life of Mark Mabasa [one of Lapid’s children] is also in danger).”
The unidentified man said it is important that Mabasa contact him through the cellphone number he used to call Lapid’s daughter so he can give all the details about the killing of Lapid.
“Nanganganib din ang buhay niya, isusunod na siya sa kapatid niya, papatayin din siya… Involved si General Bantag sa pagkamatay nitong si Lapid. Kasali si General Bantag (His life is also in danger, he will be next to his brother… General Bantag is involved in the killing of Lapid. General Bantag is involved),” the caller added, apparently referring to suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag.
The caller said he had chatted with Roy through Facebook messenger but the latter eventually ignored him.
“Ayaw maniwala ni Roy sa akin. Maliit na halaga lang hinihingi ko kay Roy para lang i-send ko sa kanya ang ‘Ocho Boys’ ni Gen. Bantag at major (inaudible) sa isang inmate din sa maximum at saka kay … ‘yung artista na dito rin nakakulong (Roy won’t believe in me. All I’m asking is a small amount so I can send him [information] on Gen. Bantag’s ‘Ocho Boys’ in cahoots with major, also an inmate at the maximum [compound]… and an actor who is also jailed here [apparently at the New Bilibid Prison]),” the caller added without elaborating on the “Ocho Boys.”
Hontiveros said another Lapid child got text messages on the same days the calls were made to his sibling.
The sender also claimed he or she has a copy of a supposed voice recording of Bantag but did not give details as to what the recording was all about.
Hontiveros said the anti-cybercrime units of the PNP and NBI should track the number so the caller can be identified and jailed.
She said she will coordinate with the PNP and NBI so they can have copies of the voice recording and text messages and the numbers used.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo is pushing for a top-to-bottom investigation of BuCor personnel and their offices to determine how contraband items such as cellphones, still manage to find their way inside the NBP. — With Raymond Africa
