THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to issue subpoenas on Monday, November 14, requiring suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, and several others implicated in the murders of broadcaster Percy Lapid and middleman Jun Villamor, to refute the charges against them.

The subpoena, which will be send to the last known address, will require the respondents to appear during preliminary investigation and file their counter-affidavits.

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

The filing of the cases came to fore after the NBI and PNP secured persons of interests (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