THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed anew a murder complaint against former Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) director Gerald Bantag and several others over their alleged involvement in the killing of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
The complaints were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Bantag, former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, General Victor Pascua and PDLs Rolando Villaver, Mark Angelo Lampera, Charlie Dacuyan and Wendell Sualog.
They were accused of being involved in the killing of PDL Hegel Lapinig Samson over his alleged exposé on the corruption inside the NBP.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Samson was allegedly behind the Leon Bilibid social media page where there were releases about corruption inside the NBP as well as the “mysterious deaths or the mysterious happenings” inside the facility.
He said PDLs who were named respondents on the complaint admitted involvement in Samson's killing by placing a bag over his head.
He said Villaver, who serves as a mayor in one of the dorms inside the NBP, named Bantag as the person who ordered him to kill the person behind Leon Bilibid, through Zulueta, to stop the criticisms spreading on social media.
Bantag and Zulueta both have a standing arrest warrant for the murder of veteran radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and NBP detainee Jun Villamor.
Lapid was gunned down on October 3, 2022, in Las Piñas City.
Villamor, who allegedly facilitated Lapid’s killing, based on the account of the self-confessed gunman, was killed inside his cell on October 18.
He was killed allegedly on the orders of Bantag, through Zulueta in an attempt to cover up Lapid’s execution.
Bantag has repeatedly denied involvement in the killing of Lapid and Villamor. (SunStar Philippines)