Suspect in Percy Lapid slay surfaces online
PROOF OF LIFE | Ricardo Zulueta (right), former Bureau of Corrections chief for security operations, is shown here with his lawyer Lauro Gacayan at the latter’s law office in Baguio City. (Photo from the Facebook account of Lauro Gacayan)
MANILA, Philippines — A former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official who was implicated in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as “Percy Lapid,” has surfaced in public for the first time — but only online.
Baguio City-based lawyer Lauro Gacayan posted on his Facebook page on Friday several photos of Ricardo Zulueta, former chief for security operations of BuCor, a suspect in the killing of Lapid, who was shot dead in his car as he was heading home on Oct. 3.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against the confessed gunman Joel Escorial, former BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag and Zulueta, who had not been seen in public since October.
Gacayan wrote on his Facebook account: “Just want to be clear about it. My client is not in hiding abroad or already dead.”
The lawyer said the photos were taken in his law office in Baguio City on Dec. 13 when Zulueta hired him as his lawyer and it showed Zulueta, who was sporting a buzz cut and had his facial hair already clean-shaven, and wearing a striped polo shirt.
According to Gacayan, Zulueta will respond to the charges against him and face the public once he has executed a counter-affidavit with DOJ prosecutors in charge of the case, which is still at the preliminary investigation stage.
Separate charges
Aside from Lapid’s murder, the authorities also filed separate charges against Bantag and Zulueta for the killing of inmate Crisanto “Jun Villamor” Palaña, who was allegedly the one who hired Escorial to kill Lapid.
Palaña was found dead inside New Bilibid Prison the day after Escorial surrendered to the authorities.
Gacayan also clarified that rumors of Zulueta fleeing the country probably stemmed from a misunderstanding.
“Somebody might have told them that I had coffee with Col. Zulueta in my other law office along Pennsylvania Avenue in San Francisco, resulting in their erroneous conclusion,” the lawyer said.
He admitted that he did have another law office on Pennsylvania Avenue in [Barangay] San Francisco, but the office was in San Fernando City in La Union and not in the state of California in the United States.
Both the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation claimed Zulueta had been hiding since the murder complaints were filed against him, Bantag and several other prison inmates.
Awol since October
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Zulueta has been absent without leave (awol) since October and lawmen who went to serve the summons at his last known addresses, including his residence in Pandi, Bulacan, did not find him there.
Zulueta was summoned to appear at the preliminary investigation hearings on Nov. 23 and Dec. 5 in the DOJ, but he did not show up. He was also not represented by a lawyer during those dates.
In the complaints, Zulueta and Bantag were identified as principals by inducement in the killings of Mabasa and Palaña.
Lapid’s younger brother, journalist Roy Mabasa, earlier expressed concern at the absence of Zulueta since his name repeatedly crops up in several testimonies.
“If Zulueta goes missing, there will be a vacuum in the investigation because his name is often mentioned in the affidavits of gang leaders submitted to the NBI and PNP,” Mabasa said.
