Lapid slay: Murder raps vs Bantag up for resolution

MANILA, Philippines — The murder complaints filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag over the killings of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Cristito “Jun” Villamor Palaña are considered submitted for resolution as the Department of Justice (DOJ) wrapped up yesterday the preliminary investigation of the case.

“The cases are now submitted for resolution,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit told reporters.

The camp of Bantag has submitted a counter-affidavit, according to Guhit.

“For the other respondents, no submission of counter-affidavits. So similar to Bantag, the cases are submitted for resolution,” he said.

Guhit said they would set a timeline for the resolution of the murder cases filed against Bantag and his co-respondents, assuring both camps that the DOJ would be fair in hearing the complaints.

“Of course everything will be based on evidence,” Guhit said.

Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta were tagged as the brains in the murders of Lapid and Villamor.

Bantag and Zulueta are facing two counts of of murder.

“We submitted the counter-affidavit ex abundanti ad cautelam, meaning we are not abandoning our stand of continuing to question the jurisdiction of the DOJ panel in hearing the charges,” Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Balisong said.

Lawyer Julieta Puday manifested during the hearing that she is representing Zulueta and requested the DOJ for copies of the subpoena, complaints and supporting documents as her client was not able to submit his counter-affidavit.