Judge cites government’s failure to arrest former Bucor chief Bantag
The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court ordered the archiving of the case involving the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid citing stalled progress and the continued absence of the key accused, his brother announced.
Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa said Judge Cesar Huliganga ruled that proceedings against former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Quitaleg Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta is shelved.
The decision came after Zulueta’s family repeatedly refused to allow DNA testing on remains believed to be his, hindering the confirmation of his identity.
Tagged as among the brains behind the Oct. 3, 2022 slay of Lapid, Zulueta reportedly succumbed to heart failure at Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Dinalupihan town on March 2024.
In the case of Bantag—who has been in hiding for nearly three years—Judge Huliganga said the case would only be reopened once the former prison chief resurfaces and surrenders to authorities.
Bantag remains the subject of a nationwide manhunt.
The case stems from the high-profile assassination of Lapid in October 2022, which triggered widespread public outrage and exposed alleged deep-rooted corruption and criminal networks within the national penitentiary system.
Lapid was the second journalist killed under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government.
In her final report on her official visit to the Philippines before the United National Human Rights Council last month, special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan cited Lapid’s murder as among four cases of media killings that make the state of press freedom situation in the Philippines a continuing concern.
READ: Irene Khan slams continuing red-tagging in UN report
Khan said the Philippine government should address the impunity for crimes against the journalists in order to build trust and confidence between itself and civil society.
In a September 2024 letter, Khan also inquired about the status of prosecution of the killers of Lapid.
READ: Irene Khan asks PH: Have you reviewed cases vs journalists already?
“Please indicate the measures adopted to guarantee full and effective accountability regarding Mr. Mabasa’s death, Khan wrote in her letter. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)