Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag (PNA file photo)
MANILA – A Muntinlupa court has archived the murder case filed against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and his former aide Senior Superintendent Ricardo S. Zulueta in connection with the death of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
In a seven-page order dated June 27, Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito of Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 archived the case against Bantag and Zulueta subject to revival once the accused, who remain at large, are apprehended.
In the same order, the court sentenced eight of Bantag's co-accused to up to 14 years in prison after they pleaded guilty in the death of their fellow inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, also known as Jun Villamor.
Prosecutors said Villamor had been killed to silence him in connection with the murder contract for newsman Percival "Ka Percy Lapid" Mabasa who was gunned down last October.
All eight are already serving sentences for prior convictions. They are Alvin C. Labra, Aldrin M. Galicia, Mario G. Alvarez, Christian D. Ramac, Ricky L. Salgado, Ronnie P. Dela Cruz, Joel A. Reyes and Joseph M. Georfo.
“Considering the pleas of guilty of the present accused, the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of all the accused present beyond reasonable doubt as accomplice for accused Alvarez, Ramac, Salgado, Dela Cruz and Reyes, and as accessory for accused Labra, Galicia, and Georfo to the crime of murder pursuant to Art. 248 in relation to Art. 18 and 19 of the Revised Penal Code,” the order read.
The magistrate sentenced Alvarez, Ramac, Salgado, Dela Cruz and Reyes to imprisonment of up to 14 years while, the rest were sentenced to up to eight years.
“The Court inquired from the prosecution and the private complainant whether they are amenable to the proposal of the present accused to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense. The prosecution manifested that it would give its consent to the proposal for plea bargaining if all the accused would enter stipulation of facts,” the judge noted.
“The respective Counsels for the accused manifested that in connection with their proposal for plea bargaining, they are willing to enter into stipulation of the facts,” he added.
Palana has been identified as one of the middlemen who contracted the hitmen who killed Mabasa. The inmate was himself killed after self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial surrendered and identified his alleged contacts inside the penal facility used for the assassination.
Hunt continues
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is exerting all efforts to track and arrest Bantag and Zulueta as soon as possible.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters that the archiving of cases pending the arrest of the suspects is normal.
“As a matter of course, the arrest warrants issued to them must be served within 10 days. Since the period has lapsed, the PNP and other law enforcement agencies that were given a copy of this warrant of arrest must submit a compliance report,” Fajardo said.
“Once the compliance has been submitted to the court, the court will then issue an alias warrant which would then remain valid until the accused are apprehended,” she added. (with report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
