The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to conduct a preliminary investigation into another murder complaint filed against former Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag and several others.
This came after the DOJ received the murder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against Bantag over the killing of Hegel Lapinig Samson, a person deprived of liberty who allegedly exposed corruption inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Also named respondents in the complaint included former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, and General Victor Pascua, along with respondents PDLs Rolando Villaver, Mark Angelo Lampera, Charlie Dacuyan, and Wendell Sualog.
“This is the one who appears on social media. His name was Leon Bilibid in the social media page,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said, in an interview.
The inmate allegedly narrated “the mysterious deaths or the mysterious happenings inside Bilibid.”
“So someone got angry with him and this is what happened,” Remulla added.
According to the DOJ, the PDLs confessed to their participation by placing a bag over Samson’s head until he died.
In his sworn statement, Villaver alleged that Bantag had ordered him to eliminate anyone associated with the name “Leon Bilibid” to “neutralize the criticism on social media.”
The DOJ said that Zulueta then allegedly informed Villaver through a message that the individual behind “Leon Bilibid” was under his supervision as mayor of a dorm.
Meanwhile, Pascua supposedly reminded Villaver to carry out the task discreetly and to leave no trace.
It can be recalled that Bantag and Zulueta have also been charged for the alleged killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor in October 2022. Both are still at large.
When asked why the search for Bantag is taking a long time, Remulla reminded that Bantag was a member of the 1996 class of the Philippine National Police Academy.
“He has a network of friends and associates who are in the police force and who may have sentimental ties to him or other professional ties to him,” Remulla said.
“So the job of the DOJ is a tough job. It’s something that we roll with the punches but we are not backing down from anything,” he added.
According to him, Bantag was “most probably” receiving information from his supposed network. “It’s logical. It’s logical that this happens,” Remulla said.
However, the Justice secretary later added that they are not condemning anyone.
“It’s just the way that our society works and we know that these are the ties that bind people. but we are confident that we are still on the right track regarding the capture of DG Bantag,” Bantag said. “And he will be captured sooner than later.”
