MANILA, Philippines — Pormal nang hinainan ng reklamong "murder" ang suspendidong hepe ng Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) na si Gerald Bantag atbp. kaugnay ng pagkamatay ng radio broadcaster na si Percy Lapid.
Nangyari ito ilang linggo matapos masuspinde si Bantag kaugnay ng pagkamatay ni Jun Villamor, isa sa mga itinuturong kasabwat sa Lapid murder, habang nasa loob ng New Bilibid Prison.
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"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," ani Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Lunes, sa isang press conference.
Dati nang sinabi ng kapulisan na isa si Bantag sa 160 persons of interest sa pagkamatay ng radio commentator, na kilalang kritiko ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.
"Director-General Bantag had a clear motive to effect the murders. For Percy Lapid, it was the continued exposé by the latter of the issues against the former on his show, 'Lapid Fire,'" ani NBI special action unit investigator Eugene Javier.
"For Jun Villamor, it was the attempt to cover up the murder of Percy Lapid."
LOOK | Report showing the Persons Involved in the murder of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid. pic.twitter.com/d4lbdYFyJZ
— Department of Justice (DOJ) (@DOJPH) November 7, 2022
LOOK | Report showing the Chronology of Events in the murder of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of Broadcaster Percy Lapid. pic.twitter.com/vb05xKVnqt
— Department of Justice (DOJ) (@DOJPH) November 7, 2022
Una nang pinangalanan ni Joel Escorial, ang sumukong gunman sa pagkamatay ni Lapid (Percival Mabasa), ang isang "Bantag" bilang nag-utos ng pagpatay.
Matatandaang sinabi ni Escorial na binayaran sila at ng mga kasabwat ng halagang P550,000 para itumba ang hard-hitting radio commentator.
"According to the credible intelligence reports, within the period of September 15, 2022 and October 7, 2022 there were indeed cash deposits totaling the amount of 550,000 pesos," sabi pa ni Javier.
"In sum, all the statements given by the PDLs and gunman Joel Escorial, coupled with evidence, corroborate as to the material facts needed to prove the two (2) counts of murder."
Si Mabasa ang ikalawang media worker na pinatay sa ilalim ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Kaugnay nito, napanatili ng Pilipinas ang pagiging "top 7" sa 2022 Global Impunity Index ng Community to Protect Journalists. — may mga ulat mula kay Kristine Joy Patag