A Muntinlupa City regional trial court has ordered the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection with his alleged role in the killing of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa who is known as Percy Lapid.
Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 also ordered the arrest of former BuCor deputy officer Ricardo Zulueta.
The judge issued the warrant of arrest dated April 12, 2023 after finding probable cause to hear the murder charges filed against Bantag and Zulueta.
Zulueta’s legal counsel, Lauro Gacayan, said they have yet to receive the arrest warrant and said he has not yet talked to his client.
On March 14, the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors indicted Bantag and Zulueta for two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and Villamor.
Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022, while Villamor, an inmate who allegedly recruited the gunmen, died at the New Bilibid Prison on Oct. 18, 2022.
An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”
Bantag earlier denied the allegations against him, saying they were fabricated.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla urged Bantag to comply with the arrest order issued by the court.
“If you think you are innocent, just come in to face the music,” Remulla told Bantag.
Remulla assured Bantag that the judge in the case will be able to make the right ruling.
“The judge will be able to know if the truth is there. They know what is the truth and what is falsehood,” he said.
Late last year, Bantag declared that he will not surrender while Remulla is still DOJ secretary.
“If Remulla does not step down, I will not surrender should a warrant of arrest be issued against me,” Bantag said during a television interview in November last year.
“Why should I surrender? They would again manipulate the case,” Bantag said in Filipino.
Remulla brushed aside Bantag’s allegations.