Bantag, 5 others charged with murder for killing Lapid

Suspended Bureau of Customs (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag and five others have been charged with murder in connection with the killing of hard-hitting broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

Aside from Bantag, the case also presented National Bilibid Prison (NBP) Supt Ricardo Zulueta, Denver Mayores from Iwahig Prison and Bantag’s trusted aide, Alvin Labra, Batang City Jail (BCJ) commander, Aldrin Galicia, Sputnik Gang commander, and Happy Go Lucky commander Alfie Peñaredonda.

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The case was presented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, November 7, said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla during a press conference at his office.

“A case has been filed with the prosecutors and from then we will proceed with the case proper and hopefully this issue will be laid to rest the way it should be,” said the secretary.

Bantag is still suspended in connection with the death of an alleged “middleman” in Lapid’s case, Cristito Villamor Palaña or Jun Villamor, while imprisoned in the NBP.

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Villamor was pointed out by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial who ordered his group to kill the journalist.

Bantag, 5 others charged with murder for killing Lapid

Villamor lost his life four hours after Escorial was presented to the public on October 18.

Before Villamor died, he allegedly revealed to Escorial that a man named “Bantag” ordered him to kill Lapid.

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In Escorial’s extrajudicial confession, he said that Villamor, or Idoy, ordered them to kill Lapid in exchange for P550,000.00.

A Christopher Bacoto alias Yoyoy, also known as Jerry Sandoval, is said to have spoken to the others who were with him in the killing of Lapid, Israel, and Edmon Dimaculangan, and an alias Orly/Orlando.

Recently, the police announced that Bantag is among the persons of interest in the murder of Lapid.

It can be remembered that Lapid was shot while riding in his car outside the BF Resort Village in Las Piñas on October 3 at night.

Before Estorial surrendered, a reward of P6.5 million was offered to anyone who could point to the suspects in Lapid’s murder.

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