THE family of slain radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa yesterday said they do not believe that former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag sent surrender feelers, adding it could be another delaying tactic.
It was Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who said last week that Bantag has expressed his desire to surrender, as relayed by a Cabinet colleague.
The Mabasa family through spokesperson Berteni Causing said in a statement they doubt Bantag’s intention considering that his camp used delaying tactics during the preliminary investigation of the case by the Department of Justice, including asking for the inhibition of the entire prosecution panel.
He said when the panel turned down the request, Bantag’s camp asked for a reconsideration, delaying the resolution of the case for some time.
“The family of Percival Carag Mabasa does not believe in the allegation that Bantag gave surrender feelers. To the contrary, it is an act of delaying the manhunt, similar to the delaying tactics Bantag did in filing the motion for inhibition and the motion for reconsideration from the denial of the motion for inhibition,” Causing said.
Causing said instead of delaying the inevitable, it would be better for the former BuCor chief to just surrender and face the charges against him before the court.
“There is no other way for him to prove his innocence, it is only through surrendering to the court of law,” he added.
The Philippine National Police earlier tagged Bantag as a fugitive after he has remained in hiding after the Muntinlupa and Las Piñas regional trial courts issued arrest warrants on April 15 and 16 in connection with last year’s killing of Mabasa and Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor alias Jun Villamor.
Villamor acted as a middleman in the case, according to self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial who claimed he was contacted by the former to do the hit on Mabasa.
Remulla, as to Bantag’s co-accused BuCor deputy security chief Ricardo Zulueta, said they have not received any offer of surrender.
Bantag and Zulueta were indicted as “principal by inducement” in the murder of Lapid and Villamor.
Meanwhile, Causing said they are studying whether Escorial could be turned into a state witness but they have yet to consult with state prosecutors handling the case on the matter.
