EDITORIAL - Tightening noose

Three gang leaders in the New Bilibid Prison have pleaded guilty as accessories, and were sentenced to two to eight years behind bars for the murder of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid. Five other NBP inmates have pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of being accomplices to the murder of the alleged middleman in Lapid’s assassination, Bilibid prisoner Cristito “Jun” Villamor Palana.

Considering that Lapid was shot dead only last October, with Palana being suffocated to death at the NBP days later, these cases were resolved with impressive speed. Judge Harold Cesar Hulinganga of the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court and Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC deserve commendation for the speedy resolution.

Gang leaders Aldrin Galicia of the Sputnik, Alfie Peñaredonda of HappyGoLucky and Alvin Labra of Batang City Jail admitted their roles in Lapid’s murder. Labra reportedly received instructions from a prisoner at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan. He relayed the order to Galicia, who in turn told Villamor to look for a hired gun outside the NBP. Peñaredonda financed the hit job.

Meanwhile, NBP inmates Mario Alvarez, Christian Ramac, Ricky Salgado, Ronnie dela Cruz and Joel Reyes received prison sentences of six to over 14 years as accomplices in the murder of Villamor amid reports that he was about to talk about the kill contract. The gunman himself, Joel Escorial, is reportedly exploring the possibility of entering into a plea agreement in exchange for a reduction of his sentence.

Villamor’s testimony would have provided what defense lawyers say is the missing link between the NBP inmates and the accused mastermind, former Bureau of Corrections director Gerald Bantag and his long-time aide Ricardo Zulueta. Despite a P2-million bounty on Bantag’s head and P1 million for Zulueta, the two have eluded arrest.

Bantag had also previously denied the accusation that he took out a kill contract, which was coursed to the NBP inmates through Zulueta, because of resentment of Lapid’s radio commentary criticizing the former BuCor chief’s performance and his supposedly unexplained wealth.

The bereaved families of Lapid and Villamor are one step closer to justice with the conviction of the inmates. The establishment of their guilt by two courts strengthens the case against the accused brains. If Bantag and Zulueta still maintain their innocence, the quickest way for them to prove it is to face the courts.