BY VICTOR REYES and ASHZEL HACHERO
THE cellphones of the self-confessed gunman in the ambush-slay of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, and of the sister of the supposed middleman who died in prison at the start of investigations, are undergoing forensic examination at the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG).
The gunman, Joel Escorial who surrendered to the police days after the October 3 killing, has named his cohorts, including alleged middleman Jun Villamor, an inmate at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) who contacted him for the kill order.
Villamor’s sister, referred to by authorities as “Marisa,” claimed to have talked with her brother through text messages hours before he was found dead at the penitentiary. Marisa, like Escorial, has reportedly provided investigators names of those involved in the killing.
Marisa, who surfaced last Monday, said her brother has told her the killing was ordered by leaders of “Sputnik,” “Happy Go Lucky” and “Batang City Jail” gangs in the NBP on the instruction of the “office,” referring to the NBP.
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the forensic examination on the cellphones of Escorial and Marisa is being conducted as part of the investigation on the case.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Villamor’s death is also a “possible murder case.” He did not elaborate but his statement came a day after President Marcos Jr. expressed doubt that Villamor died of “natural causes,” based on initial findings of an autopsy conducted on the alleged middleman.
“We’re not talking about one murder case na lang dito (only one murder case). It’s possible the Jun Villamor case may be a possible murder case too kaya (that’s why) we are also investigating that. It’s our obligation to do that,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.
The NBI has yet to release a full autopsy report. A second autopsy, which was requested by Lapid’s family, was conducted by top forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun. Remulla on Wednesday said Fortun will come up with a “written report” today.
The initial autopsy report showed, among others, “no apparent sign of external physical injury,” on Villamor’s body. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said its health service unit did not find evidence of foul play.
Villamor was found dead on October 18, hours after Escorial was presented to the media by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. Escorial surrendered on October 17.
BANTAG NOT BEING SINGLED OUT
Remulla said suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag is not being singled out in in the investigations. He said there are so many tagged as “persons of interest” and Bantag is only one of them.
The PNP previously said Bantag, who was placed on preventive suspension due to the mysterious death of Villamor, was among 160 persons of interest in the case.
“We’re trying to be fair, we’re trying to be balanced, we’re trying to be clear, thorough wala ho tayong kinikilingan dito (we’re not siding with anyone). We just want the truth to come out. Gusto natin lumabas lang ang katotohanan,” he added.
He added that like the President, he also wants to know who the mastermind is.
“That’s why we are being cautious about everything we say, everything we do. And we’re being thorough,” he said.
Bantag has said what happened to him was not just a mere preventive suspension but really a move to remove him from his post. He also said his removal could be the handiwork of those affected by the “cleansing” process he initiated at the BuCor, particularly drug lords and others engaged in illegal activities in the national penitentiary.
Remulla said authorities are having difficulty tracking the three others named by Escorial — brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan and one alias “Orly” or “Orlando.”
Escorial said the Dimaculangans acted as his backup gunmen while Orly or Orlando drove the getaway motorcycle after they shot Lapid in Las Piñas City.
“Wala pa tayong lead. We just want them to surrender. Buti yung sumuko na lang sila kasi ‘yung nangyari kay Jun Villamor, hindi maganda ‘yung nangyari. Maraming milagro sa mundo sana ‘wag mangyari sa kanila ‘yun (We have no lead. We just want them to surrender. It would be better if they just surrender. What happened to Jun Villamor is not a good thing. There are so many miracles in this world and we do not want it to happen to them),” Remulla said.
Remulla also said the three individuals named by Marisa, who sought the DOJ’s help and is now with the Witness Protection Program, have been secured.
AMLC
Fajardo, in a radio interview, said the PNP has also sought the assistance of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in looking into the transactions involving the account of Escorial who has said the P550,000 payment for the killing was deposited in his account.
Remulla earlier said the NBI, which is conducting a parallel investigation in the murder, and the AMLC were looking into the bank accounts of the persons involved in the transfer of the P550,000 payment.
“Part of our investigation is the financial investigation being done by the AMLC and PNP, as well as on the cell phones of the self-confessed gunman that was submitted to the ACG and the cellphone of the sister of the middleman,” said Fajardo.
RECORDINGS
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros turned over to PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. pieces of evidence in connection with threats and extortion made on Lapid’s family.
She said these include the audio recording of the phone conversation between Lapid’s daughter and an unidentified man, and screenshots of text messages also sent by an unidentified person making the death threats and extortion try on the Lapid family.
“I trust that our law enforcers can make full use of these pieces of evidence to ensure a thorough investigation of the harassment and threats received by the Mabasa family, as well as the murder of Percy itself,” Hontiveros said in a message to the media.
Hontiveros earlier said she got hold of the evidence when she visited Lapid’s family last Monday.
The audio recording tells of the unidentified man supposedly informing the family that Roy Mabasa, Lapid’s brother, and Lapid’s son were next targets of assassins. The caller asked money from Mabasa in exchange for supposed detailed information which will implicate Bantag in the killing. — With Raymond Africa
