Tulfo wants deeper probe of BuCor

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday disclosed that six persons whom “Marissa,” the sister of the middleman in the Percy Lapid slay, has recently identified are now under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“At least six of them have been secured already. I think two or three are in (the custody of the) Philippine National Police and three with the National Bureau of Investigation,” Remulla said in a chance interview during the 28th National Correctional Consciousness Week at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.

“What is important is that all the persons whom the middleman’s sister has named are all in custody now,” he continued.

Remulla wasn’t sure, however, if the “mastermind” was among the persons already in custody.

But later on during the interview, Remulla said that “Marissa,” second middleman Christopher Bacoto – who allegedly tapped the services of other accomplices of gunman Joel Escorial – and Jose Villamor are also included among the six “secured” persons.

Inmate Jun Globa Villamor, who had been serving time since 2019 for murder, frustrated murder, and violation of an election gun ban, died inside the NBP Hospital on October 18.

Villamor’s sister “Marissa” was taken into the protection of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) after Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo brought her to the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Monday.

She has provided several names and other information, which the DOJ has considered as material and relevant at first glance.

According to Justice Assistant Secretary Atty. Mico Clavano, Villamor had revealed to “Marissa” on Facebook Messenger some relevant information surrounding the popular broadcaster’s death.

‘No letup in Lapid probe’

Remulla vowed to pursue without letting up the investigation into the sensational murder of Lapid last October 3 in Las Piñas City.

“Hindi pa. (But) we cannot speculate. I think it’s unfair to speculate. We will… basta aabutin natin kung saan man matutumbok yan, tutumbukin natin,” Remulla told reporters, when he was asked whether “Marissa” has already named the mastermind.

At the same time, Remulla disclosed that he has already offered protection and security to the family of veteran journalist Roy Mabasa, brother of the slain broadcaster.

“Yes, I already offered that to Roy. I talked to him, and I told him we’re ready to… for anything that he may need, especially for security,” Remulla said.

‘Heat of passion’

Remulla has described as mere “heat of passion” the claims made by suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag.

Interviewed over radio station DZRH Tuesday, Bantag, among other things, claimed that he was “denied” due process when he was suspended for 90-days over the death of the middleman in the Percy Lapid slay.

Bantag also expressed belief that with the way things are unfolding, he won’t be returning to BuCor’s helm anytime soon.

But Remulla said: “Some of them [may be] displaced. Some of them [may be] in the heat of passion. I don’t think he was properly informed of the truth. Hindi ho ganyan yan. Heat of passion yan.

We dismiss those things as natural reactions of persons.”

“… [H]indi natin pinapatulan yung ganyang usapan kasi as far as I’m concerned he is preventively suspended,” Remulla continued.

Bantag was preventively suspended over the mystery-shrouded death of the middleman in the sensational murder of Lapid last Oct. 3.

It can be recalled that self-confessed gunman Escorial upon his surrender, claimed that the order to assassinate Lapid came inside the walls of NBP (New Bilibid Prison) in Muntinlupa.

According to him, they were six of them originally to do the hit and were paid a total of P550,000.

Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo called for a “top-to-bottom” investigation of the personnel of BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) and their offices to find out how contraband items, which are among the root causes of many crimes involving inmates, are persistently being smuggled into NBP.

Tulfo made the statement upon learning from the sister of NBP inmate Jun Villamor, the dead middleman in the slaying of broadcaster Percy Lapid, that her brother had “access” to a mobile device while in prison.

By preventing the entry of contraband items, especially cellphones which are used to communicate with the outside world, he said, killings and other crimes could be prevented.

“Maliban sa pagsasagawa ng regular search sa mga kubol ng inmates, dapat ay gumagawa din ng regular search sa mga opisina ng kawani ng BuCor dahil hindi naman maipapasok ang mga kotrabadando sa loob ng Bilibid, katulad ng cellphones at droga, kung walang sabwatan ang mga kawani at inmates nito,” he said.

“Dapat ding magsagawa ng lifestyle check sa mga kawani ng ahensya para matigil ang malawakang korapsyon sa loob ng bilangguan. Ang iba kasi diyan, motor ang minamaneho pero all of a sudden, makikita mo na magandang kotse na ang gamit; o ‘di kaya ay dati nangungupahan lang ngunit ‘di magtatagal ay nakatira na sa isang magandang condo unit,” he added.

It may be recalled that during his previous interview with Villamor’s sister, alias “Ate,” on his program “Wanted sa Radyo,” she confirmed that her brother’s mobile device was bought for P10,000 from a person inside the prison.

As early as 2019, then Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino divulged that some unscrupulous BuCor officials and personnel allow inmates to possess cellphones at a “high cost.”

DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano, for his part, confirmed on Tulfo’s program that the smuggling of contrabands like cellphones inside NBP continues to run rampant until now, which is why he agreed to Tulfo’s recommendation for an investigation.

The senator from Isabela and Davao added that the current practice of “Sim Card for Rent” inside NBP should also be investigated and stopped.

Tulfo likewise proposed that strict and thorough bodily search of all BuCor employees, from high-ranking officials to low-ranking officials entering NBP, must be implemented and conducted by outside security personnel, which must be routinely replaced.

He said that strict screening of all the materials and goods delivered inside the stores in NBP, which are also used to bring contrabands, is also necessary.

To ensure the prevention of entry of illegal items inside the national penitentiary, Tulfo suggested the use of an X-ray screening device or the hiring of trained dogs to detect contraband. By Hector Lawas & PS Jun M. Sarmiento