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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Subpoena vs Bantag to answer 2 murder charges served in his last known address

Subpoena vs Bantag to answer 2 murder charges served in his last known address

Published Nov 15, 2022 12:35 pm

BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag

The subpoena against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag to answer the two murder charges filed against him was served on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at his last known address in Caloocan City.

But process servers of the Department of Justice (DOJ) were told that Bantag has not been residing in Caloocan City since his appointment as BuCor director general in 2019.

DOJ Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie L. Guhit, a member of the three-man panel which will conduct the preliminary investigation starting Nov. 23, said: “The subpoena, insofar as the prosecution is concerned, is deemed served.”

Guhit noted that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) provided the last known address of Bantag.

Though Bantag’s lawyer sought that the subpoena be sent to Baguio City where the suspended official is staying, Guhit pointed out “we have no information where in Baguio City DG Bantag is staying.”

“The NBI and PNP should inform the panel of prosecutors by way of manifestation or appropriate pleading about the new address of DG Bantag before we issue another subpoena to DG Bantag,” he said.

It was not known as of posting if the subpoenas to Bantag’s co-respondents in the two murder complaints – BuCor’s Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta and several persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) -- have been served.

Bantag and Zulueta were charged as “principals by inducement” in the killings of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and PDL Cristito Villamor Palana, who had been identified by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as one of two “middlemen” in the slaying of the broadcaster last Oct. 3.

Those named as co-respondents in the Mabasa case as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were BuCor PDLs Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Penaredonda.

For the killing of Palana, also charged as “principals by direct participation” were PDLs Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes.

The first murder complaint in the Mabasa killing was filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Oct. 18 against Escorial, alleged “middleman” Christopher Bacoto, brothers Israel and Edmon Adao Dimaculangan, and a certain alias “Orly” or “Orlando.”

The DOJ had said that Escorial “acknowledged that on 03 October 2022, at around 8:30 The shot Percy Lapid three (3) times using a caliber .45 pistol, and that he was accompanied by Israel Adao Dimaculangan, Edmon Adao Dimaculangan and a certain alias Orly/Orlando.

“Moreover, alias Orly/Orlando and Dimaculangan brothers joined Escorial because a certain Christopher Bacoto (Yoyoy), also known as ‘Jerry Sandoval’, talked to his companions to help him in killing Percy Lapid,” it also said quoting from Escorial’s affidavit.

The three complaints have been consolidated and will be investigated by a panel composed of Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza-Torrevillas as chairperson and Guhit and Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina T. Dugay as members.

Aside from Nov. 23, another date of the preliminary investigation was set on Dec. 5.

TAGS: #DOJ #BuCor # Bantag # Percy Lapid

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