Remulla admits looking, hoping other groups were responsible for Lapid slay

UNRAVELING SLAY PLAN Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (left) and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos lead a joint press conference on Monday to announce the filing of murder complaint against suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag, deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta and several prisoners for their alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and inmate Cristito Palaña. Inquirer file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has admitted that he looked at — and he hoped that — other groups were responsible for the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid, and not suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag.

Remulla, during an ambush interview on Tuesday, said that he hoped he could pinpoint drug lords as the masterminds behind the assassination of Lapid, real name Percival Mabasa, on October 3 outside the radioman’s subdivision where he lived.

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief said that investigations had led to another possible suspect — Bantag.

“Ibang tao tinitignan ko. Ibang grupo.  I was hoping it was the drug lords para tapos na, pero hindi. I was hoping, I was hoping that I could point to the drug lords and not Bantag,” Remulla told reporters.

(I was looking at other groups, I was hoping it was the drug lords so that the case is finished, but it is not.  I was hoping, I was hoping that I could point to the drug lords and not Bantag.)

“Ito yung lumabas sa facts eh [But this is what the facts revealed],” he added.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation filed murder complaints against Bantag, BuCor Deputy Security Officer (DSO) Ricardo Zulueta and other Bilibid inmates for allegedly ordering the killing of Lapid and a certain Cristito Palaña.

Palaña is the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) detainee pinpointed by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial as the person responsible for arranging the hit job on Lapid.  Palaña, earlier identified as Crisanto or Jun Villamor, died last October 18.

Bantag, as BuCor head, had the responsibility of supervising the NBP.  The suspended official had previously denied any involvement in the death of Lapid, saying he has nothing to gain from it.

READ: Murder raps filed vs Bantag, others linked to Percy Lapid slay | Bantag denies involvement in Percy Lapid slay: Anong mapapala ko diyan? 

Remulla said that while Bantag is not yet considered a fugitive as the summons has not been delivered to his last known address, it would be better for him to come out and participate in the legal proceedings.

“Participate in the preliminary investigation… put your money where your mouth is, kung meron ka talagang deniability, sabihin mo, sabihin mo sa amin.  Ilabas mo, gawin mong affidavit,” the DOJ chief said.

(Participate in the preliminary investigation… put your money where your mouth is, if you really have deniability, then tell us, give that information to us. Then, release that and turn it into an affidavit.)

“Gumawa ka ng sworn statement mo, then we will know ‘di ba?  Kasi wala naman kaming bias dito.  We are not here to oppress anybody, we’re here to find out the truth.  ‘Yon po ang trabaho namin,” he assured the public.

(Make a sworn statement, then we will know, right?  Because we are not biased here, we are not here to oppress anybody. We’re here to find out the truth.  That’s our job.)

Lapid’s death stirred up several controversies, as netizens questioned whether Escorial was really the shooter, prompting Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to say that Escorial is not a fall guy.

READ: DILG chief Abalos tiniyak na hindi ‘fall guy’ si Joel Escorial 

When Palaña died, PNP and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised doubts about whether the middleman died of natural causes.

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JPV/abc