Remulla: DOJ in custody of 7 persons to tell on death of 'middleman' in Lapid slay

Justice Secretary Jesus Cripsin “Boying” Remulla said on Saturday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now in custody of seven people who have knowledge on the circumstances surrounding the death of the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

At a press conference, Remulla said the seven individuals will be questioned by the agency to confirm that the death of Jun Villamor was planned.

“Sila ang maaring magturo na ang pagkamatay ni Jun Villamor ay hindi po aksidente, hindi natural na atake,  ngunit isa pong pinagplanuhang kamatayan,” the Justice chief said.

(They can confirm that the death of Jun Villamor was not an accident, not a natural attack, but a planned one.)

Autopsy finding by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun found that the manner of Villamor’s death was homicide as there is a history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation, confirming information he died from suffocation by means of a plastic bag over his head. 

Lapid, host of an online broadcast program and columnist for a tabloid, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3.

On October 18, self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial was presented to the media following his surrender.

He identified several persons involved in the plot to kill Lapid including two middlemen, identified as Villamor and Christopher Bacoto, who are detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

On October 20, Remulla said Villamor died inside the NBP on October 18.

Remulla said the Justice department is investigating the possibility that the death of Villamor may have been a case of murder.

No disagreement in 2 autopsy  results

On the other hand, Secretary Remulla said he sees no inconsistencies with the results of the autopsy conducted by Dr. Fortun and the earlier one done by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Initial findings from the NBI's autopsy show “...no signs of physical external injuries which probably indicates a natural cause of death or no signs of foul play.”

The NBI autopsy also found that Villamor had a hemorrhage in the heart. 

“Wala akong nakikitang takipan (I don't see any coverup),” Remulla said.

“I don’t think there are any inconsistencies with the findings,” he said.

The Justice chief said that the NBI conducted its initial autopsy without the “dying declaration.”

“Maraming factor na hindi alam ng NBI noong kinonduct nila yung autopsy,” Remulla.

(There were a lot of factors that the NBI did not know when they conducted the autopsy.)

Among the significant findings in the autopsy conducted by Fortun is the finding of traces of shabu in the urine sample collected from Villamor’s body. 

Remulla said this confirms the presence of drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. —LBG, GMA News