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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ summons Bantag, others to answer murder charges; preliminary investigation starts Nov. 23

DOJ summons Bantag, others to answer murder charges; preliminary investigation starts Nov. 23

Published Nov 14, 2022 03:35 pm

DOJ

Subpoenas were issued on Monday, Nov. 14, to suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag and his co-respondents to answer the two murder complaints filed against them for the killings of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, the alleged “middleman” in the slaying of the radio commentator last Oct. 3.

The subpoenas or summons were issued by the panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) which set the hearings starting at 9 a.m. on Nov. 23 and starting at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5.

Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento confirmed the issuance of the subpoenas that signaled the official start of the preliminary investigation on the three murder complaints.

The first murder complaint was filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Oct. 18 against self-confessed gunman Joel S. 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 two other murder complaints were filed last Nov. 7 by the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Bantag and BuCor’s Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta as “principals by inducement” in the killings of Mabasa and Palana, earlier identified as Jun Globa Villamor.

Those named as co-respondents in the Mabasa case as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were BuCor inmates 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 three murder complaints have been consolidated by the DOJ.

The panel of prosecutors which will conduct the preliminary investigation is composed of Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza-Torrevillas as chairperson, and Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Charlie L. Guhit and Josie Christina T. Dugay as members.

TAGS: #DOJ #BuCor # Bantag # Percy Lapid

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