Wrong Name: Bantag No-Show At Preliminary Probe

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag was a no-show on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the preliminary investigation on the Percy Lapid-Jun Villamor murder complaints filed against him before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.

Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Balisong said that his client did not attend the preliminary investigation because the DOJ’s subpoena was addressed to a “different person,” citing the middle name indicated in the document as “Soriano” instead of “Quitaleg.”

“Legally, he (Bantag) has not yet been served a subpoena. Remember, I raised the issue on the wrong name of the person in the subpoena,” Balisong said in a text message to media.

Last Monday, Nov. 21, it was Balisong who personally received the subpoena addressed to “Gerald Bantag y Soriano” at the DOJ in Manila.

It directed the subject of the subpoena to appear before the DOJ on Nov. 23 and Dec. 5 for the preliminary investigation into the murders of Lapid (real name: Percival Mabasa) on Oct. 3 and Villamor (real name: Cristito Palaña), the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmate who allegedly brokered the contract to kill the radio commentator, on Oct. 18.

“What we received (on) Nov. 21 is a subpoena not intended for our client. It was intended for one, Gerald Bantag y Soriano,” maintained Balisong, emphasizing that they received only on Wednesday a corrected subpoena intended for the suspended BuCor chief.

Asked if Bantag intends to attend the next preliminary investigation set at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5, Balisong replied: “Depende (It depends).”

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit, though, disputed Balisong’s claim that the subpoena issued by the DOJ was “fatal” and emphasized the fact that Balisong was present at the preliminary investigation to represent Bantag.

Guhit stressed that the issue of the name in the subpoena was already resolved and that Wednesday’s preliminary investigation went smoothly even if Bantag was not around.

Bantag’s co-respondent in the case, BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zueleta, was also a no-show and no legal representations were made on his behalf, the state prosecutor said.

Bantag and Zulueta are accused of masterminding the murders of Lapid and Villamor.

“(If) There will be no representation for Zulueta then the case will be resolved without his counter-affidavit, meaning it will be resolved on the basis of the complaint,” Guhit explained when asked about the possible consequence of Zulueta’s absence.

He stressed that the 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) named as co-respondents in the case were all present at the preliminary investigation through video teleconferencing – an arrangement made “for security purposes.”

Meanwhile, nothing has yet been heard from two other co-accused who remain at large – brothers Edmund and Israel Dimaculangan.

During the hearing, lawyers for the PDLs manifested that their clients will either reaffirm their respective affidavits or submit counter-affidavits in the next scheduled hearing, while Bali-song manifested that all orders may be addressed to his law office in Baguio City.

Guhit said the National Bureau of Investigation manifested that it would file supplemental evidence, copies of which would be furnished to all respondents five days before the Dec. 5 hearing.

Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa was present at the preliminary investigation.

Mabasa told reporters that their family had expected some delays in the investigation, but hoped that state prosecutors would be fair in conducting the investigation in order to seek justice for the slain broadcaster.

“Hopefully, he (Bantag) attends the next hearing, because all the other respondents attended so he’s the only missing piece in this investigation of the DOJ,” Mabasa said.

He added that the Philippine National Police “is pursuing a good lead right now” as far as the whereabouts of Zulueta is concerned, expressing belief that the latter is alive and not dead as rumors have it.

‘No treasure hunt’

Meanwhile, Bantag slammed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for claiming that the excavation at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) under his watch was intended for a treasure hunt and not a deep swimming pool for scuba divers as the BuCor chief had earlier stated.

“I do not remember anything like that. What I told all of you is that it was for a scuba deep pool,” Bantag, speaking in Filipino, told GMA News’ “24 Oras” on Tuesday night, Nov. 22, when asked about Remulla’s claim that he ordered the excavation on NBP grounds to hunt for the Yamashita treasure.

The Yamashita treasure is a reference to the war loot stolen in Southeast Asia during World War II by Japanese imperial forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita.

Bantag also belied BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Pio Catapang’s declaration that the soil hauled from the NBP complex was transferred to Caloocan City.

“That’s foolish. He is such a liar,” Bantag said of Catapang in the same interview. – With Emmanuel Tupas