JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday expressed confidence the murder case filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag will prosper even in the absence of his co-accused, deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have alleged that Zulueta was supposedly Bantag’s “messenger” who gave the order to kill veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and middleman inmate Cristito Palana Villamor, alias Jun Villamor.
Zulueta had gone into hiding since the murder complaints were filed before the DOJ.
“It will not affect the case if Zulueta surrenders or not. I just hope Zulueta still appears because he is a co-conspirator. His role is important but if he does not appear or if something happens, what can we do? Justice cannot halt, it has to continue,” Remulla told CNN Philippines.
He said he is confident that the government has a strong case against Bantag despite his previous statement that the case against the embattled prison official rests on the totality of evidence and not on his alleged direct link to the murders.
“It will not affect the case because basically what we have are… they appear hearsay at the beginning, but they will stand. A conspiracy is a conspiracy, and the act of one is the act of all,” Remulla said.
Remulla said Zulueta and Bantag have a close relationship as they have been working together since their days in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“Zulueta can be described as his right-hand man. What he does was ordered by his boss.
He was a co-accused of Bantag in the Parañaque case. He was also the right hand of Bantag when he was warden of Caloocan,” Remulla said.
The DOJ chief was referring to the August 11, 2016 grenade explosion inside the Parañaque City Jail where 10 inmates were killed. At the time, Bantag was the warden of the city jail.
In January 2020, the Parañaque RTC acquitted Bantag, Zulueta and Jail Officer 2 Victor Erick Pascua of 10 counts of homicide.
Meanwhile, Remulla said the DOJ will not oppose if Bantag’s camp asks for an extension or seeks to delay the conduct of preliminary investigation scheduled today, Wednesday.
Remulla said it is also not necessary for Bantag to personally appear before the DOJ for the preliminary hearing.
“That will be up to the prosecutors to decide and most of the time this is usually granted by the prosecution. It is okay,” he said.
On Monday, Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Balisong said the former is ready to face the allegations against him in connection with the Lapid and Villamor killings.
Bantag also previously said he is prepared to face the charges but said he will not surrender even if a warrant is issued for his arrest if Remulla remains in the DOJ.
Bantag has expressed doubts he could get justice with Remulla at the helm of the DOJ.
Remulla said the DOJ’s role is to prosecute the case as he reiterated his challenge to the suspended BuCor chief to just face the charges.
“The judge will determine whether or not the case is valid. Face the music because that’s what criminal cases are about. You have to account for what you did. I don’t see merit on what he (Bantag) is saying,” Remulla added.
If Bantag makes good his threat not to surrender, Remulla said it would just prove that he has something to hide.
“Magiging wanted siya. Flight is an indication of guilt. And the more guilty he will appear if he doesn’t show up,” he said.
Roy Mabasa, brother of the slain radio commentator, expressed concern on the whereabouts of Zulueta as he noted reports that a team from the NBI and PNP went home empty-handed when they tried to serve the subpoena to his two known addresses.
Roy Mabasa said Zulueta’s family told the team they did not know his whereabouts and they have no contact with him.
“Kung mawawala si Ginoong Zulueta ay magkakaroon ng vacuum doon sa ginagawang imbestigasyon sapagkat madalas na nababanggit ang pangalan ni Ginoong Zulueta doon sa mga affidavits ng mga gang leaders na nagtestify at nagbigay ng pahayag sa NBI at sa PNP (If Mr. Zulueta remains missing, it would create a vacuum in the ongoing investigation since he was named in the affidavits executed by gang leaders who testified before the NBI and the PNP on his alleged role in the case),” Mabasa said.
He said they are expecting that Bantag and Zulueta will attend today’s preliminary hearing at the DOJ.
“Ito’y pagpapakita ng kanilang sinseridad na sumunod kung ano ‘yung tinatadhana ng batas, kagaya namin, kaming pamilya ng biktima, humaharap kami. At dapat harapin din nila (It would show their sincerity to follow the rule of law. Just like us, the family of the victim, we will appear. And they should also face us),” he added.
