2nd autopsy on 'middleman' in Lapid slay to be completed today — DOJ's Remulla

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the second autopsy on the body of Jun Villamor, the deceased inmate who allegedly acted as a middleman in the killing of Percy Lapid, will be finished today (Wednesday).

“Today. Kahapon external, today internal. Nagre-report naman sa akin si, I’m in conversation with Dr. Raquel Fortun, matagal ko na siyang kakilala. So we’re hoping that everything is worked out properly,” Remulla said in an interview.

(Today. Yesterday it was external, today internal. I’m in communication with Doctor Raquel Fortun. I’ve known her for a long time, so we’re hoping that everything is worked out properly.)

Remulla on October 20 announced that Villamor had died in the New Bilibid Prison.

Initial findings of the National Bureau of Investigation showed that Villamor suffered a hemorrhage in the heart. The report also indicated that the autopsy found “no apparent sign of external physical injury.”

According to Remulla, Villamor’s body will be escorted to Leyte.

“We will have them escorted. Baka isama ‘yung witness protection kasi ‘yung kapatid ay gusto rin makapiling ang mga kapatid at pamilya sa Leyte. Kaya ina-arrange rin natin ‘yan,” Remulla said.

(Maybe witness protection will be included because the sister also wants to reunite with their family in Leyte. We are arranging that.]

Villamor’s sister was taken into the witness protection program on October 24.

Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said she had shared information, including names, that are relevant to the case.

“Ang mahalaga ho sa sister po nung Villamor, lahat po nung naituro doon ay in custody na po, in custody na. And we secured all possible persons,” Remulla said.

(What’s important is that all those mentioned by the sister of Villamor are already in custody.)

Remulla said there were six individuals under custody, of which two or three are with the Philippine National Police, and three are with the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said some of them were witnesses. The secretary also clarified that the accomplices of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial are not among them.

“Yes, we’re waiting for them to surrender. I hope they surrender at saka yung isang driver, yung Orly, kailangan makuha pa natin, hindi ko pa nakikita, wala pa kong balita kung nakasuko na. Pero alam ko sila na lang ang hinahanap natin,” he said.

When asked if the mastermind is already included in the six individuals, Remulla said it is possible that it may be someone else.

He said it is “unfair to speculate.”

Meanwhile, Remulla said that the cellphone of Villamor has not yet been located.

In a separate interview, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang said they are tracing all locations Villamor had occupied.

“Ngayon pinapa ano ko, check yung simula nung napunta siya dito saan-saan siyang napuntang cell o kubol… up to the point na namatay siya o nagkasakit o whatever,” Catapang said.

(I asked them to check all the cells he’s been in up to his death.)

“‘Yun oo ... pinapa-check ko baka may nakita silang kahinahinala or whatever. So we’re talking to his roommates,” he added.

(I also asked them to check all suspicious activity or whatever. So we’re talking to his roommates.) —LBG, GMA News