SUSPENDED Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, and several others have been formally subpoenaed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), requiring them to answer charges linking them to the murders of broadcaster Percy Lapid and middleman Jun Villamor.

According to Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento, the preliminary investigation will be held on November 23 at 9:00 a.m. and December 5 at 1:00 p. m.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have filed two murder complaints against Bantag and several others, including gang leaders, in connection with the two murders.

The filing of the cases came to the fore after the NBI and PNP secured persons of interest (POIs) – who are mostly persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) – that provided essential information about the twin killings.

For the murder of Lapid, charged were Director General Gerald Q. Bantag, BuCor deputy security chief Ricardo S. Zulueta as principals by inducement. PDLs Denver B. Mayores, Alvin C. Labra, Aldrin M. Galicia, and Alfie Peñaredonda are likewise charged as principals by indispensable cooperation.

For the murder of Villamor, charged were Bantag and BuCor deputy security chief Zulueta as principals by inducement. PDLs Labra, Galicia, Mario G. Alvarez, and Joesph Medel Georfo are charged as principals by indispensable cooperation.

PDLs Christam D. Ramac, Ricky L. Salgado, Ronnie P. Dela Cruz, and Joel A. Reyes were also charged as principals by direct participation.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas