Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 20) — The offer of reward money will help speed up the gathering of information on the whereabouts of the alleged masterminds in the killing of veteran journalist Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, authorities said Tuesday.
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a total of ₱3 million reward for information that would lead to the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and his ex-deputy Ricardo Zulueta.
Both are wanted for murder.
“With or without the reward money, the Philippine National Police, especially the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), will continue to track them,” said NCRPO chief MGen. Edgar Okubo.
“The announcement of the reward money will add to the chance” of people giving “information about their whereabouts,” he added.
Okubo said they validate all information they receive on the location of Bantag and Zulueta.
The reward on the whereabouts of Bantag is ₱2 million, and ₱1 million for Zulueta.
In a separate briefing on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the reward money being offered is for the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta and not for their prosecution.
“Basta nahuli, it leads to the arrest okay na [If it leads to their arrest, then it’s okay]. ‘Yung [The] successful conviction is our problem in the DOJ. To prosecute it properly it’s their problem. We cannot leave the reward out if the person is really caught because of the information. We will have moral obligation to pay already,” Remulla said.
He added that the department had information that Bantag and Zulueta are still in the country.
“Nandito sila, nasa Luzon. Nagkaroon ng balita na nagpunta ng Mindanao pero hindi totoo, hindi namin navalidate,” he said.
[Translation: They’re here in Luzon. There were reports they went to Mindanao but it’s not true, we weren’t able to validate.]
On Monday, Remulla said he wants both law enforcement and the public “to be more aggressive in helping the department get hold of the suspects in the killing.”
Gusto nating palawakin [We want this to widen]. Sometimes it takes a little persuasive power of a reward to make people rise from their slumber,” he added.
