BY JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
MANILA, Philippines – Now it becomes a very puzzling turn of events, as the beleaguered and suspended Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) chief Gerald Bantag filed murder raps and other complaints against Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
In a 15-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman’s Office, Bantag accused the DOJ chief as the alleged ‘mastermind’ behind the murder of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa on October 3.
The suspended Bucor chief in the same complaint also filed grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and conduct unbecoming of a public official.
“Complainant, assisted by counsel, unto this Honorable Office, accuses the respondents for the crime of MURDER and administrative cases of Grave Misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and conduct unbecoming of a public official against respondents Sec. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Acting Dir. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.,” the complaint said. It was filed recently but made public on January 5, this year.
Other respondents included in the cases were Persons deprived of liberty (PDL): German Agojo, Alfie Peñaredondo, Aldrin Galicia, Mario Alvarez, and Alvin Labra.
In an interview with the media, DOJ secretary only responded saying: “Ano ‘yan eh, he’s trying to exhaust all possible remedies, which is to go against me personally but it will not change anything. The cases will continue,” Remulla claimed.
To collaborate his alleged claims, Bantag, in his complaint presented Remulla’s alleged connection into the killing of the broadcaster.
It can be recalled that on October 3, 2022, while Percy Lapid was going to his office onboard his self-driven vehicle, an assassin on board a motorcycle alighted near the driver seat, and without provocation, peppered him with bullets, which caused his untimely demise.
Bantag also showed the DOJ chief’s connection with Jun Villamor, known as the alleged middleman who reportedly contacted
inmates who would implement the killing of the radioman.
Bantag claimed in his complaint that Lapid has been attacking him even after his designation as chief of the Department of Justice.
“On September 29, 2022, just four days before Percy Lapid was killed, he hit and attacked Secretary Remulla in his Lapid Fire program. Percy Lapid described Sec. Remulla as a person who will destroy the image of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and that President Marcos should know this,” Bantag allegedly said in a media interview.
