The camp of suspended Bureau of Correction (BuCor) Gerald Bantag filed a motion seeking to inhibit the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct the preliminary investigation on the slay cases of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito ‘Jun’ Villamor.
In a live stream by vlogger Boss Da TV on Monday morning, Bantag's lawyer Rocky Thomas Balisong said they want to transfer the cases to the Office of the Ombudsman as the DOJ lacks jurisdiction over these.
“Sa amin, it is within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman. Why? Because it falls in the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Under the law, all offenses na na-commit ng mga public officials [with] salary grade [of] 30 and above should fall in the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,” he said before they attended the scheduled second preliminary probe.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Southern Police District (SPD) Queeny Virtusio said they would oppose the motion because they believe that the justice department is authorized under the law to conduct the preliminary probe.
“We informed the panel of prosecutors. We will comment with our reply, we will comment with our response within the seven days,” Virtusio said in an ambush interview with reporters.
Meanwhile, Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa likewise said they would file an opposition against the motion next week.
“Ito ay i-oppose namin sapagkat kami ay may karapatan. Sa akin lang, I will reinstate our position dahil bawat araw at oras na ma-delay dito ay injustice sa pamilya in Ka-Percy,” he lamented.
On the other hand, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla rejected the filed inhibition.
“Tignan natin. Inhibition is not the question here. Hindi ito pu-puwede,” he said.
Bantag appeared on the second preliminary probe at DOJ in Manila for the first time since he was tagged as the “mastermind” in the murder of Lapid and Villamor.
However, the proceedings have been suspended while there is a pending resolution on the motion of inhibition filed by Bantag’s camp.
