Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, one of the co-respondents of suspended BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag in two murder complaints, has filed his counter-affidavit denying the charges filed against him.
Zulueta’s lawyer Lauro Gacayan said the counter-affidavit was sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors through a courier last February 14. A copy was not available as of posting.
Bantag, Zulueta, and several other co-respondents have been charged with twin murders for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana who was tagged by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as his “middleman” in the killing of the broadcaster on Oct. 3, 2022 in Las Pinas City.
The panel of prosecutors had earlier submitted the murder complaints for resolution after conducting a preliminary investigation. The panel has yet to come out with its resolution.
Bantag and Zulueta’s co-respondents in the Percy Lapid killing are Escorial, brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and persons deprive of liberty (PDLs) Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Penaredonda.
In the Palana killing, their co-respondents are PDLs Labra, Galicia, Mario Germones Alvarez and Joseph Medel Georfo.
In an interview, Gacayan said he “sees no problem” on Zulueta’s filing of his counter-affidavit only last Feb. 14. “No problem because unless there is already a resolution, you can file anything,” he said.
He blamed the DOJ for the delay in the filing of his client’s counter-affidavit.
“They failed to give a copy of the complaints with affidavits of witnesses. Only a one-page subpoena which they repeated in the new case,” he added.