DOJ serves subpoena vs. Bantag over Lapid murder
MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena for suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection to the murder of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
In the subpoena, the DOJ ordered Bantag to appear in its preliminary investigation hearings on November 23 and December 5.
The subpoena was served in Bantag’s last known address in Caloocan City, senior state Assistant Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said.
But Guhit noted that Bantag had no longer been staying there since his appointment as BuCor director general.
“Based on our records, the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and the PNP [Philippine National Police] only provided the last known address of Bantag in Caloocan. The subpoena, insofar as the prosecution is concerned, is deemed served,” Guhit said.
The senior prosecutor also said that they had “no information” about Bantag’s supposed new address in Baguio City.
“The NBI and PNP should inform the panel of prosecutors by way of manifestation or appropriate pleading about the new address of Bantag before we issue another subpoena,” he said.
State prosecutors recently said they would subpoena Bantag for him to answer allegations that he was the supposed mastermind behind Mabasa’s murder last October.
But Bantag, who said he had nothing to do with the killing, maintained that he would only cooperate if Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla resigned from his post.
Mabasa’s family, through the slain broadcaster’s brother Roy, had also urged Bantag to come out in the open and clear his name.
“Si Ginoong Bantag lumabas ilang linggo ang nakaraan. Kung wala siyang kasalanan, sino pala ang may kasalanan?” Mabasa said.
“Baka naman gusto niyang lumabas ngayon at magsabi kung sino talaga ang [may kasalanan]. Baka may nag-utos sa kaniya?” he added.