POLICE Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr, the Director of the CIDG, has ordered the manhunt and arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief and Jail Officer said to be masterminds in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and death of Jun Villamor.
The said order came about after the release of arrest warrant for Murder under RPC Art 248 by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 266 issued by Presiding Judge Gener Gito on April 12, 2023 against Gerald Quitaleg Bantag, former BuCor Chief and Jail Officer Ricardo Soriano Zulueta.
“Sa bisa ng Warrant of Arrest na aming nakuha ay agaran kong ipinag-utos ang isang malawakang manhunt operation upang madakip ang mga nasabing mastermind sa pagpatay kina Percy Lapid at Villamor,” said PBGen Caramat.
Included in his directive was the creation of tracker teams which will focus on the case build-up and operational research to determine the whereabouts of the accused.
“Ang pagbuo ng tracker teams na ito ay may layong mapabilis at magkaroon ng mas planadong paghahanap at pagtugis sa mga akusado upang masiguradong kahit saang panig ng Pilipinas mula rito sa Metro Manila hanggang Mindanao ay ma-cover natin sa ating gagawing manhunt operation,” added CIDG Director.
The CIDG will ensure that justice will prevail against offenders by carrying out its mandates in compliance to the marching orders of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta.
Catherine R. Cueto
