CA rejects Bantag bid to junk murder cases over Percy Lapid killing

ABS-CBN News

Adrian Ayalin

MANILA — The Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag for the dismissal of murder cases filed against him.In the resolution promulgated by the 2nd Division, the appellate court dismissed outright the petition, citing the Manual for Prosecutors that petitions for certiorari shall be first coursed through the Office of the Prosecutor General for evaluation and approval prior to endorsement to the Office of the Solicitor General.A petition for certiorari seeks a review of a decision of a lower office or court.“The said procedure along with the non-conformity of the OSG on the filing of instant petition for certiorari calls for the outright dismissal of the petition,” the CA said in the resolution signed by Associate Justice Ronald Martin.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/5/nbi-raids-bantag-safe-houses-1207">RELATED: NBI raids Bantag safe houses</a></div>Bantag, through his lawyer, filed the petition challenging the November 16, 2023 order of Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 254 which deying his motion to quash Information and warrant of arrest with prayer to suspend the implementation of the warrant.In his motion to quash, Bantag had argued that the panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice did not have the authority to file the Information, or complaint.He also said the RTC has no jurisdiction over the crime because he had the position ranked Salary Grade 30, which means the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court should have jurisdiction over the case.“Significantly, the instant petition is an offshoot of a criminal case, the filing thereof needs the conformity of the OSG,” the CA said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/6/percy-lapid-gunman-joel-escorial-sentenced-to-8-16-years-in-prison-1614">RELATED: Percy Lapid gunman Joel Escorial sentenced to 8-16 years in prison</a></div>Bantag has evaded arrest for allegedly masterminding the killing of broadcast journalist Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in 2022.In a tweet on X, Mabasa’s brother Roy Mabasa expressed disgust for the petition filed by Bantag even if the CA has dismissed the petition.“In short, the motion was merely a delaying tactic.... [S]aan ka pa pupunta?” Roy Mabasa said.

The Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag for the dismissal of murder cases filed against him.

The Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag for the dismissal of murder cases filed against him.

CA rejects Bantag bid to junk murder cases over Percy Lapid killing | ABS-CBN

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CA rejects Bantag bid to junk murder cases over Percy Lapid killing

CA rejects Bantag bid to junk murder cases over Percy Lapid killing

ABS-CBN News,

Adrian Ayalin

Published Jun 25, 2024 10:56 AM PHT

Read More:

Gerald Bantag

Percy Lapid

Percival Mabasa

Media killings

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