Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) — Eight people tagged in the killing of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, entered pleas to lesser offenses.
The order, dated June 27 from Regional Trial Court Branch 206 in Muntinlupa City, said Mario Alvarez, Christian Ramac, Ricky Salgado, Ronnie Dela Cruz, Joel Reyes pleaded guilty as accomplice to the crime of murder, while Alvin Labra, Aldrin Galicia, Joseph Georfo pleaded guilty as accessory to murder.
“The Court inquired from the prosecution and the private complainant whether they are amenable to the proposal of the present accused to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense,” the document stated. “The prosecution manifested it would give its consent to the proposal for plea bargaining id all the accused would enter into a stipulation of facts.”
It said the prosecution was to prove the guilt of all accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Alvarez, Ramac, Salgado, Dela Cruz, and Reyes were sentenced to six years and one day of prison mayor as minimum, to 14 years, eight months, and one day of reclusion temporal as maximum.
Labra, Galicia, and Georfo will serve time for two years, four months, and one day of prison correcional to eight years and one day of prison mayor
Additionally, the court ordered Alvarez, Ramac, Salgado, Dela Cruz, and Reyes “to pay jointly and severally to the private complainant” a total of ₱225,000 in damages.
It also directed Labra, Galicia, and Georfo “to pay jointly and severally to the private complainant” a total of ₱150,000 in damages.
In the meantime, the Muntinlupa court has archived middleman Jun Villamor’s case pending the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and his ex-deputy Ricardo Zulueta.
“Considering that the other accused in this case, accused DG Gerald Bantag y Quitaleg and CT/SSUPT. Ricardo Zulueta y Soriano, are not yet arrested, let this case be sent to the archive subject to revival upon the arrest of said accused,” the court’s decision also said.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said archiving the case is the correct legal process.
“Kasi kung ang isang akusado ay wala sa hurisdiksyon ng korte, hindi po pwedeng tumakbo ang prosekusyon, ang trial. Ang first crucial act is the fact that the accused, the person of the accused is subjected to the jurisdiction of the trial court. That can only be done by arrest,” he explained.
[Translation: If an accused is not under the jurisdiction of the court, the trial and the prosecution cannot continue. The first crucial act is the fact that the accused, the person of the accused is subjected to the jurisdiction of the tiral court. That can only bne done by arrest.]Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said the search for Bantag and Zulueta continues.
“Dito naman sa manhunt na ginagawa kay Ginoong Bantag, patuloy pa rin po no yung locating ni sa location ni Ginoong Bantag at Ginoong Zulueta,” he said on Thursday. “Meron po tayong natatanggap na mga information doon sa ating mga linya na linabas doon sa notice of reward. It’s just a matter of validating kasi po alam niyo naman yung situation natin doon sa resources natin sa NBI at PNP.”
[Translation: We continue the manhunt for Mr. Bantag and Mr. Zulueta. We have received information because of the notice of reward. It’s just a matter of validating these because you know how the resources of the NBI and PNP are.]
The court also directed the National Bureau of Investigation to transfer the custody of Galicia, Alvarez, Ramac, Salgado, Dela Cruz, and Reyes to the New Bilibid Prison to serve their sentences.
Villamor died at the New Bilibid Prison on Oct. 18, 2022, days after Lapid was gunned down at the gate of a subdivision along Aria St., Barangay Talon Dos in Las Piñas City.
The Department of Justice has offered a total of ₱3 million for information that would lead to the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta who are both wanted for murder.
“Sometimes it takes a little persuasive power of a reward to make people rise from their slumber,” said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
