JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said the 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 2 or 3 are in (the custody of the) Philippine National Police and 3 with the National Bureau of Investigation,” Remulla said in a chance interview during the 28th National Correctional Consciousness Week at the New Bilibid Prison 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,” Remulla added.

However, Remulla said he wasn’t sure if the mastermind was among the persons already in custody.

He said the 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 last 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 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” in Facebook messenger some relevant information surrounding the 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 its unfair to speculate. We will….basta aabutin natin kung saan man matutumbok yan, tutumbukin natin,” Remulla told reporters when asked whether “Marissa” has named the mastermind.

At the same time, Remulla said 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 described as a mere “heat of passion” the claims made by suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag.

Interviewed over radio station DZRH last 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 Lapid slay.

Bantag said 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 people.”

“… hindi natin pinapatulan yung ganyang usapan kasi as far as i’m concerned he is preventively suspended,” Remulla added.

Bantag was preventively suspended over the death of the middleman in the murder of Lapid.

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