The Department of Justice is investigating the possibility that the alleged middleman in the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa was murdered in the New Bilibid Prison.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla made the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed doubts that the 42-year-old inmate, Jun Villamor, died of natural causes.
Earlier, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. also said he suspected foul play might have been involved in the death of Villamor, calling the timing of his death “questionable.”
Villamor was found dead inside the national penitentiary hours after self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial said someone from the NBP had acted as an intermediary and gave the order to have him killed.
“We’re not only talking about one murder case here. It’s possible the Jun Villamor case may be a possible murder case too. That’s why we are also investigating that. It’s our obligation to do that,” Remulla said.
Initial autopsy findings made by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) released Saturday showed “no apparent sign of external physical injury” on Villamor’s body.
The Bureau of Corrections also said its health service unit did not find evidence of foul play on Villamor’s death.
But a second autopsy requested by Mabasa’s family is being conducted by top forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.
“She will come up with a written report by Friday,” Remulla said.
Remulla also clarified that suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag is not being singled out amid the investigation to unmask the mastermind in Mabasa’s killing.
“No one has been singled out here, there are too many persons ofinterest, I don’t know where that thing came from,” Remulla said.
The PNP previously said Bantag, who was placed on preventive suspension due to the mysterious death of Villamor, was among the 160 persons of interest in the case.
“Whatever it is, we’re trying to be fair, w e’re trying to be balanced, we’re trying to be clear, thorough, we’re not biased here. We just want the truth to come out. We just want the truth to come out,” he added.
Just like the President, he also wanted to unmask the mastermind, he said.
Bantag has said what happened to him was not just a mere preventive suspension but a move to remove him from his post.
He said this could be the handiwork of those affected by a “cleansing” process he initiated at BuCor.
Remulla said the authorities are also having difficulty tracking the whereabouts of the three other suspects mentioned by Escorial, namely brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and one alias Orly or Orlando.
Escorial said the Dimaculangans were supposed to be his backup gunmen while Orly or Orlando drove his getaway motorcycle after they shot Mabasa on Oct. 3 in Las Pinas City.
“We have no lead. We just want them to surrender. It would be better if they just surrender as what happened to Jun Villamor is not a good thing. There are so many miracles in this world, and we do not want it to happen to them,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Remulla said the three individuals mentioned by “Marisa,” Villamor’s sister, were already in custody.
Villamor’s sister said her brother gave him the names of three persons who likely would have something to do with his death.
“They are already there. More than that, we have taken someone else into custody who did not run among the three but can help with the investigation,” the DOJ chief said.
Marisa surfaced Monday and told the authorities of messages her brother supposedly sent her before he died on Oct. 18.
In the message, she said her brother told her Mabasa’s murder 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.
PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said the mobile phone of Escorial was in police custody and was undergoing forensic examination.
“We have already submitted to the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group. The cellphone used by the middleman’s brother was also examined by the ACG,” Fajardo said in an interview with Unang Balita.
Fajardo said part of the investigation is to check the recorded conversations between the gunman Escorial and the persons of interest, and the bank transactions made.
She added the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) was also conducting a financial probe on the bank account of Escorial.
Fajardo said they would also ask the court to let police investigators check other possible bank accounts of the gunman, who claimed he and his cohorts were paid P550,000 to kill Mabasa.
Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, director of the Southern Police District and commander of the task force formed to investigate Mabasa’s murder, said Escorial continued to identify others that he said were involved in the killing.
Kraft said the new names mentioned by Escorial will be of big help in their efforts to identify the brains behind the killing of Mabasa.
Also on Thursday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she remains hopeful that the President will continue to speak on the Mabasa murder.
She noted that ‘every word’ of the President regarding the Mabasa ambush-slay on Oct. 3 would carry a big weight as these would be considered orders from the Chief Executive.
She also renewed her call to the President to give full protection to the Mabasa family who has been experiencing harassment and threats from anonymous callers and texters.