Lapid kin asks if Duterte among 160 POIs; DOJ says it's farfetched

The brother of Percy Lapid on Tuesday said that their family was asking if the name of former President Rodrigo Duterte was on the list of 160 persons of interest in the case.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, veteran journalist Roy Mabasa said that if the Philippine National Police (PNP) had reviewed 600 postings of Lapid, Duterte's name could be among them.

Mabasa said Duterte was often the subject of Lapid's commentary.

"Sa amin lang pag-iisip ay gusto lang rin namin malaman kung sino ba 'yung 160 persons of interest na 'yun. Kasama ba diyan si Ginoong Duterte?" he said.

(In our mind, we wanted to know who are these 160 persons of interest. Is Mr. Duterte included there.)

“Kasi maraming tinalakay si Ka Percy. Kung 160 programs ‘yung pinanood nung PNP para pagbasehan ‘yung persons of interest, sigurado ako na maraming pangalan naka-include diyan. Maaring kasama ‘yung pangalan diyan ni Ginoong Duterte,” he added.

(Ka Percy discussed a lot of things. If the PNP reviewed his 160 programs to get the names of persons of interest, I'm sure many names would be included there. Mr. Duterte's name could be one of them.)

Mabasa said their family remains open to all possibilities.

However, he stressed that he is not saying that Duterte is a POI.

“Wala po akong sinasabi rito na si Ginoong Duterte ay kasama sa persons of interest. Ang sinasabi ko lang, maaari siya ay masama roon dahil 160 ‘yung sinasabi ng PNP,” he said.

(I'm not saying that Mr. Duterte is among the persons of interest. What I'm saying is he could be included because the PNP said there was 160.)

GMA News Online reached out to former presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar and Senator Bong Go for Duterte's comment on the matter but they have yet to reply.

Farfetched and political

Southern Police District director Police Brigadier General John Kirby Kraft said Duterte is not among the persons of interest in the case.

“Nega na po ‘yan (That is a negative),” Kraft said in a Viber message to GMA News Online.

For Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the inclusion of the former president among the POI is farfetched and political.

“Wala. Malayo, eh, malayo. Iba ito (No, it's farfetched. This is different). We’re talking about following the money and following the conversations. Wala eh. We cannot bring it to that level. Political ‘yan,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

“That’s already the political level. We’re not concerned about politics. We’re concerned about the crimes,” he added.

Meanwhile, when asked for comment about Remulla’s remark, Mabasa said many of Lapid’s videos were political in nature.

“‘Yung sa akin naman, marami namang tinalakay si Percy na political din. In fact, what is not political in this issue sa context nitong si Bantag ay sino ba ang mga nag-appoint diyan, sino ba ang mga nagluklok diyan, sino ba ang mga backers niyan?” he said.

(My point is Percy discussed a lot of political things. In fact, what is not political in this issue with regards to Bantag is who appointed them to their posts, who are their backers?)

“I’m not saying it will lead to those people but ang sa akin lang, bakit hindi natin subukan maghukay pa nang husto? Tutal meron pa silang sinasabing 5% na they’re tying the loose ends. So wala pong mawawala. Lahat ‘yan ay posibilidad,” he added.

(I’m not saying it will lead to those people but for me, why don't we dig deeper? They're saying there's still 5% that they’re tying the loose ends. So there's nothing to lose. Everything is possible.)

GMA News Online tried reaching out to Bantag for comment but he is not answering his phone.

On Monday, authorities pointed to suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta as those behind the killing of Lapid. Murder complaints have been filed against them and others with the DOJ.

According to Remulla, their investigation is currently at 95% and they are waiting for the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on the bank accounts of the individuals involved.

The AMLC had previously confirmed that P550,000 was deposited to the account of Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman who admitted killing Lapid in Las Piñas City on October 3.

“Kaya nasa 95% lang tayo kasi ‘yung AMLC report kinukumpleto natin. Merong tinuturong tao doon sa pera (We are at 95% because we are still trying to complete the AMLC report. The money trail points to a person). You always follow the money when there’s a criminal enterprise. Always follow the money. We have suspects already,” Remulla said.

Remulla earlier said he believes there are no more individuals behind the masterminds.

No motive

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Duterte ordering the killing of someone when he is no longer in power does not make sense.

“Ngayon pa na wala ka na sa poder saka ka pa magkainteres [sa] tao, for what? Ayaw mo masira ang political career mo na tinitira ka? Eh ano pa ang kailangan pag-usapan d'yan retired ka na nga e, ano pa ang maging motive mo? So motive is malayo,” he said.

(You got interested on a person now that you are no longer in power, for what? You don't want your political career to be destroyed? You are already retired, there is nothing to talk about. What else would be the motive? So there is really no motive.)

Dela Rosa was the chief of the PNP under the Duterte administration.

He said the investigation should be left to the PNP and the NBI.

“Mahirap kasi marami ang nagmamarunong, marami nagkukunyari na may alam, maraming gustong isaksak doon sa imbestigasyon na hanggang daldal lang naman (There are some who think they know everything, they want to put something into the investigation even if they have no proof to back it up),” he added.—with Joviland Rita/AOL/NB, GMA Integrated News