PNP to Bantag, Zulueta: Face Lapid slay case probe, murder complaint

Suspended Bureau of Corrections Director Gerald Bantag (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has enjoined Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag and BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta to face the murder complaint filed against them in connection with the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo on Wednesday said the two main suspects in the Lapid slay case should cooperate with the authorities’ probe. 

“We appeal to them na mag-participate po sila sa ongoing investigation and in fact, this coming November 11, there is a scheduled preliminary investigation, and hopefully, mag-participate po sila, probably with their lawyers, para masagot nila iyong reklamong isinampa sa kanila (so they can answer the complaints filed against them),” she told Inquirer.net over the phone.

“Sabi nga natin, kung sa tingin nila na (if they think)  they are implicated without basis, pwede po nilang sagutin ito and mag-submit po sila ng mga ebidensya (they can respond and  submit pieces of evidence.)

READ: What we know so far: Bantag and those linked to Percy Lapid, middleman slays

Fajardo also assured the public that the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are already trying to track down Zulueta who, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has since gone AWOL but is believed to still be in the country. 

“We are exerting effort, as well as the NBI, to know the whereabouts of  Zulueta. On the part of the PNP, we are also locating them,” Fajardo said in English and Filipino.

READ: BuCor security officer linked to Percy Lapid slay ‘in hiding,’ says Remulla

Bantag is facing a murder complaint for the death of the radioman-vlogger and the alleged middleman in the case, Cristito Palaña, who was earlier referred to as Crisanto or Jun Villamor. 

Bantag has repeatedly denied his involvement in case.

Zulueta and several persons deprived of liberty were also implicated in the murder of Lapid and Palaña based on the investigation of the PNP and the NBI. 

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