FORMER Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Balisong, declined to confirm or deny reports that his client had made contact with an undisclosed Cabinet official to express his intention to surrender.

When asked by People’s Journal about the reported “surrender”, Balisong answered thru SMS that he had no knowledge of it.

“I cannot confirm nor deny (it). I have no knowledge about it,” he said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed on Thursday night that Bantag had contacted one of his Cabinet colleagues by phone five to six days ago to say that he may surrender.

However, law enforcement must still execute the warrant of arrest, according to Remulla, but would not encourage them to expedite the process for the meantime due to Bantag’s intention to surrender.

Bantag, former prison security officer Ricardo Zulueta, and three other individuals were issued a warrant of arrest by the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court in connection with the murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Israel Adao Dimaculangan, Edmon Adao Dimaculangan, and an individual using the alias “Orly/Orlando” were among the other individuals named in the warrant. No bail was been recommended by the Las Piñas court for their temporary liberty.

Furthermore, the Muntinlupa RTC ordered the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta for the mysterious death of middleman Jun Villamor inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Villamor reportedly passed on the kill order to self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial.

Percy Lapid, also known as Percival Mabasa, was a DWBL radio commentator who was shot dead at the gate of BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City on October 3 while on his way home.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas