Suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag put the blame on the Philippine National Police for its late coordination on the middleman who died inside the New Bilibid Prison.
“Ang sinasabi ni chief PNP, dapat sinecure ‘yan kasi mayroon namang coordination,” Bantag said in an interview on GMA News.
“Walang coordination, inuulit ko. Ako ngayon ang tinuturong may kasalanan, ako ang nadidiin ngayon sa failure nila to coordinate,” he added.
Bantag added that documents will prove that the PNP only got in touch with them
on October 19 or 20.
The alleged middleman identified as Jun Villamor died shortly after the alleged gunman Joel Escorial surrendered to the authorities.
The brother of slain journalist Percy Lapid, Roy Mabasa, admits that he is also receiving death threats due to the case.
“Katakot-takot na pong death threat ang inaabot ko. Kaya nga po hindi ako nakapunta sa DOJ para sa kaalaman niyo lang dahil may banta po sa aking buhay,” Mabasa said in an interview on GMA News.
“Masyadong brazen ‘yung mga messages na pinapadala sa akin sa cellphone, sa messenger, may video chat pa. Alam niyo kung ganoon ‘yung natatanggap niyo under the circumstances, iisipin niyo pa ba lumabas,” he added.
Mabasa’s brother was shot dead last October 3 in Las Pinas.
Mabasa said that the family of the alleged middleman Jun Villamor is also scared due to threats into their safety.
“Natatakot sila dahil alam kung nasaan silang lugar… ako naman lahat ng pagtitiis ginagawa ko na para lang makausap lang sila. Pero ako’y nakikiusap pa rin na sana’y bilisan namin ‘yung aksyon dahil kami ‘yung biktima dito. Kami ‘yung pinatayan ng kapatid,” Mabasa said.
The family of Lapid is also requesting for a second autopsy on Villamor following his mysterious death.
“Sabi ko sa kanya wala pong kakayanan ang pamilya namin para gastusan ‘yan. Sabi niya sasagutin ‘yan ng DOJ, ang kailangan lang talaga ay makakuha ng pahintulot mula sa pamilya,” Mabasa said.
“Kausap ko po ‘yung mga kapatid medyo natatagalan sila mag desisyon tungkol doon sa pahintulot ano sapagkat may mga komplikasyon din,” he added.
