Court issues arrest warrant vs. Bantag, Zulueta

A Muntinlupa court has ordered the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection with the death of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Also ordered arrested by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 is former BuCor deputy officer Ricardo Zulueta.

The arrest warrant — dated April 12, 2023 and signed by Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito — said murder is non-bailable.

GMA News Online has reached to Bantag's lawyer, Atty. Rocky Balisong, for his comment, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Zulueta's legal counsel, Atty. Lauro Gacayan, said they have yet to receive the arrest warrant. "I have not talked to my client also," he added.

On March 14, the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors indicted Bantag and Zulueta for two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and Villamor.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3, 2022, while Villamor, an inmate, died at the New Bilibid Prison on October 18, 2022.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a "history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation."

Bantag earlier denied the allegations against him, saying they were fabricated. —KBK, GMA Integrated News