Sister of 'middleman' in Percy Lapid slay mentioned names —DOJ spox

The sister of Jun Villamor, the deceased middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, has shared information, including names, that may be helpful to the case, a Justice official said Tuesday.

In an ambush interview, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Mico Clavano said the department is currently verifying the information shared by the middleman's sister.

"I can't give that information, but there were names that were named," Clavano said when asked if the sister has named the mastermind in the killing.

The sister has already been placed under the government's Witness Protection Program (WPP) to ensure her safety.

According to Clavano, the sister has met with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla where she gave information "relevant" to the case.

Clavano said the sister was able to communicate with her brother, an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison, through chat before he died.

"Pero all these are allegations as of now. So we have to verify, we have to vet. Kaya ongoing po 'yung vetting at 'yung verification,” he said.

Clavano said the DOJ and the WPP found the information she gave to be "relevant and poses a threat to her life."

In a separate interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said they are hoping to place Villamor’s sister under full protection.

"We have to clarify some issues, but I think we will try to give them full coverage. Syempre aspiration natin bigyan sila ng full coverage," Remulla said.

Remulla said the other witnesses mentioned in the message are already in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

According to the Justice secretary, the other suspects that are inmates at the NBP are now under the custody of the DOJ.

“Meron na tayong in custody na galing sa Bilibid, galing sa NBP. may tatlo na tayong in custody na galing doon… actually, kahapon pa,” he said.

Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, was shot dead while on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.

The existence of the first middleman, later identified as Jun Villamor (also reported as Cristito Villamor Palaña), was announced on October 20, the same day he was announced dead by Remulla.

Remulla the following day said there was a second middleman when asked why the Philippine National Police initially said the middleman had been secured when it turned out he had died.

He identified the second middleman to be one Christopher Bacoto.

According to a briefer from the DOJ, confessed gunman Joel Escorial said Bacoto talked to his companions to help him in killing Lapid while Villamor promised to pay P550,000.

When asked about the inmate Escorial said he and Villamor worked for, Remulla replied that this person had been secured.

“Yes, secured na siya. He’s in a military facility now. Okay siya,” he said.—KBK/VBL, GMA News