Background (Part 4):
On December 5th, everyone was surprised when General Gerald Bantag and his team of lawyers showed up at the Department of Justice in Manila, not to file their counter affidavit in response to the original subpoena re the double murder case of Lapid and Villamor, but to file a motion for DOJ to inhibit itself from conducting preliminary investigation on the ground that the Secretary of Justice himself is not impartial and acts as if he is the accuser, the investigator, and the judge rolled into one. Bantag’s lawyer wants the Ombudsman to handle Bantag’s case, considering that Bantag is a high-ranking government official, and cited a previous Supreme Court decision relevant to this case. The investigative party (Prosecution Panel) has seven days to answer Bantag’s motion for inhibition. Unfortunately, the latest news is that DOJ Secretary Remulla will not agree to inhibit his department from prosecuting Bantag. DOJ likewise claims they have an agreement with the Ombudsman that criminal cases will be handled by DOJ, while the Ombudsman will focus on graft and corruption cases.
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Could money be the reason why Percy Lapid’s family seems to ignore other possible suspects (like anyone in the government attacked fiercely by Percy in his program)? Indeed, that’s why I salute Gen. Bantag for refusing to accept the hundred-million pesos of welcome gift by drug lords in prison when he was appointed Bureau of Corrections chief by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
As regards Percy Lapid’s attacks, it must be noted here that DOJ Sec. Remulla was also hit by Lapid in his program, even harder and more personal (some bloggers called it “below the belt”) than Bantag. But this fact was never discussed by mainstream media, nor was it ever mentioned by DOJ and police investigators.
I am intrigued by the revelation of J. Escorial, Percy Lapid’s assassin, that the main reason he and his “friends” in prison agreed to accept the “job” was to gain freedom as “promised” his imprisoned friends. Freedom? As in release from prison? German Luna Agojo, the druglord who ordered the killing of Judge Voltaire Rosales (who sentenced him to life) was freed (despite the Supreme Court decision affirming his sentence in 2009) via the Witness Protection Program of the DOJ. Who then has the authority to release a convict and give him complete freedom?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Again, my question is: Where is Agojo?
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It is interesting to note that it is the social media that has been very active covering Bantag’s case, with a number of bloggers even doing research work to uncover hidden facts whether or not possibly ignored by DOJ’s NBI and the National Police. The mainstream media is generally silent on the matter or touches just the surface of this case, which to me, is highly incredible in these modern times in a democracy.
As of today, January 5, no case against Gen. Bantag has been filed.
The latest exciting happening as regards this case is:
1)Bantag’s lawyers filed several cases against DOJ Secretary Remulla on Dec. 27, 2022 at the Ombudsman (the investigative court handling cases against government officials)--graft and corruption grave misconduct conduct prejudicial to the best interest of government service and conduct unbecoming of a government official.
2)On January 4, 2023, Bantag’s lawyers filed MURDER charges against Remulla and his cohorts (Agojo, 3 gang commanders inside prison) for masterminding the killing of Percy Lapid and later, the killing of Cristito Villamor, the middleman (inside prison) who contacted (and reportedly paid) the gunman/assassin Jun Escorial.
I am sure that Remulla’s camp is now shocked at this amazing move by Bantag’s lawyers. Bantag’s supporters feel hopeful that the truth will now be out in the open. Bantag’s lawyers ask the Ombudsman to conduct a deep investigation in search for truth, and pray that Remulla be preventively suspended in order to prevent him from using his position as DOJ Secretary to twist facts again.
UPDATE (FEBRUARY 2023)
Several complaints have surfaced against Director-General Bantag to make sure he's kicked out of government service, including malversation of public funds, plunder, physical injuries against prisoners and jail guards, etc. Meanwhile, majority of netizens and bloggers express their full support for DG Bantag, which Bantag has recognized and expressed that without this outpouring of public support, he could have killed himself, but if he would, he'd take with him DOJ Secretary Remulla. It was expressed as a half-joke, but I believe he wasn't joking.
