POLICE probers are determining whether to file criminal charges against members of the family of Ricardo Zulueta, one of the suspects in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October 2022, who died of heart failure last Friday.
Zulueta, a former deputy chief of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor), was brought by his brother, Ronald, to the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center where he later died.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said initial information from the Bataan police indicated that Zulueta showed up at his brother’s place a night before his death.
Fajardo said Zulueta’s common-law wife was also present when the accused showed up.
Zulueta, Fajardo said, later complained of chest pain and was promptly brought to the hospital.
“Nonetheless, we are not readily believing this (information), that’s why they are asking people in the area if they know Zulueta and his common-law wife, if they noticed them (Zulueta and his wife) going to the area ,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said investigators are verifying how long Zulueta has been staying at his brother’s place.
“As to the question whether we are planning to file charges of obstruction of justice particularly for harboring a wanted criminal, that is one of the things we are studying,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the PNP is “more than willing” to assist the Department of Justice if the justice department will pursue a case against those who harbored Zuluete prior to his death.
At the same time, she said the PNP believes there was no foul play in the death of Zulueta
“His own brother brought him to the hospital and even the common-law wife of Mr. Zulueta was present… He complained of chest pain and was brought to the hospital. However, he died,” said Fajardo, adding that the hospital issued a death certificate showing that the cause of Zulueta’s death was cerebro vascular disease intracranial hemorrhage.
Fajardo said the DOJ has taken the fingerprint and pictures of Zulueta, in coordination with the local police.
“But as to the decision whether the cadaver of Zulueta will be subjected to autopsy, this needs the consent of the family. The PNP cannot decide for the family should the NBI wishes to conduct autopsy to erase doubt (on Zulueta’s death),” she said.
In the meantime, Fajardo said the Zulueta family has requested authorities to allow them to grieve for their loss.
“But they are more than willing to give information if they are going to be asked what happened in the past few months, where Zulueta went prior to his death. They promised to cooperate but let us allow them to grieve,” she said.
Zulueta and former Bucor Director General Gerald Bantag are the main suspects in the killing of Mabasa who was shot dead in October last year in Las Piñas City.
They were charged in court and warrants for their arrest have been issued as early as March last year.
