Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 17) — Former Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag, who is charged with murder for the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid, is now considered to be in hiding, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“As of now, he (Bantag) is considered as a fugitive from the law,” PNP Public Information Office chief Red Maranan said on Sunday.
He added the arrest warrants issued this month against Bantag, BuCor officer Ricardo Zulueta, brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and one alias “Orly/Orlando” are not yet considered served. By law, warrants have to be physically served to respondents.
On Monday, PNP chief PGen Rodolfo Azurin called on Bantag to surrender and face the charges filed against him.
Azurin said the PNP has offered to provide security for Bantag, however he is unaware if the former BuCor official took on the offer.
“Ngayon may WOA (warrant of arrest) na siya — to make it easier for everyone, why doesn’t he just surrender and face yung kanyang (charges) so he can have his time in court,” Azurin said.
[Translation: Now he has a WOA — to make it easier for everyone, why doesn’t he just surrender and face the charges so he can have his time in court.]
The PNP has launched a manhunt to track down Bantag and the four others. The warrant was brought to Bantag’s home in Caloocan and Zulueta’s home in Bulacan, but they were both not in at that time.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating mga tracker team sa paghanap at paghabol doon po sa mga akusado,” said Maranan.
[Translation: Our tracker teams are looking and chasing after the accused.]
The PNP also said it is coordinating with the court to issue a hold departure order against the suspects to prevent them from leaving the country.
“Assuming naman na makalabas sila, then we will be coordinating with Interpol for the possible coordination na makikita sa kanilang respective countries and we have extradition case sa country na iyon then we could proceed sa extradition ng suspek for that matter,” said PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo.
[Translation: If they’re able to leave, we will coordinate with the Interpol. Wherever they are, we will ask for their extradition.]
Apart from the arrest warrant over Lapid’s assassination, Bantag and Zulueta also face another arrest warrant for the killing of Jun Villamor, the supposed middleman in the journalist’s slay.
