Court Issues Arrest Warrant VS Gerald Bantag, Ricardo Zulueta
GERALD BANTAG – The death of one of the alleged middlemen in the murder of journalist Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa has led to an arrest warrant being issued by a Muntinlupa court for former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta.
Gerald Bantag, a member of the Kaagapay class of the Philippine National Police Academy, worked as the warden for the Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Manila, and Paraaque municipal jails. He served as the Mimaropa region’s regional director for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology until being named Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief in 2019.
In November 2022, the PNP and the NBI filed separate murder complaints against Bantag for the deaths of veteran radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Jun Villamor. Bantag was placed on administrative leave.
Authorities announced at a news conference on November 7 that they had established that Gerald Bantag had a reason for ordering the murder of Mabasa, the subject of Mabasa’s hard-hitting show, “Lapid Fire.”
Based on a report from CNN, a Muntinlupa court has issued an arrest order for Bantag and former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta in connection with the passing of one of the alleged middleman in the murder of Mabasa.
READ ALSO: Percy Lapid’s Brother Roy Mabasa Targeted by Fake Accounts
According to the report, the non-bailable warrant for the charge of murder was issued by Branch 206 of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday. The two are thought to have been engaged in the murder of “middleman” and inmate of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Jun Villamor, in October.
On October 18, a few hours after the self-confessed gunman in the killing of Mabasa turned himself into police, Villamor was discovered comatose within the NBP. After being taken to the jail hospital, he was immediately pronounced dead.
Based on the report, the NBI’s investigation revealed no evidence of foul play or physical harm to his body. According to a second autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, he was found dead from suffocation caused by a plastic bag.
Authorities later claimed that four Sputnik gang members who were working for the NBP were given orders to murder Villamor. Bantag and Zulueta allegedly gave the gang members commands, according to the NBI.
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READ ALSO: Witnesses Tag Bantag as the Mastermind of Percy Lapid’s Slay
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