Daven Tamayo

PNP validating sightings of alleged Percy Lapid killing mastermind Bantag

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/10/04/20221004-media-killing-lapid-fsj-8792.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Members of various media organizations gather at the Boy Scout Circle on Timog Avenue in Quezon City, Oct. 5, 2022, for an indignation rally on the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Mabasa. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of various media organizations gather at the Boy Scout Circle on Timog Avenue in Quezon City, Oct. 5, 2022, for an indignation rally on the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Mabasa. <em>Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it has been receiving information on possible sightings of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag who faces murder charges and remains at large more than two years since the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid that he is accused of being the mastermind of.</p><p>In a media briefing at Camp Crame, Police Brig. Gen Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said the force is validating reports on Bantag&#x27;s whereabouts.</p><p>Fajardo said the PNP believes Bantag is “still around our country, particularly somewhere up north.”</p><p>She said the national police are grateful for the information it has received.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/25/ca-rejects-bantag-bid-to-junk-murder-cases-over-percy-lapid-killing-1045">CA rejects Bantag bid to junk murder cases over Percy Lapid killing<br/></a></div><p>Tracking teams continue to look for Bantag, a graduate of ther Philippine National Police Academy.</p><p>“We are openly appealing to him to face the music and anyway bibigyan naman siya ng pagkakataon ng korte para harapin itong reklamong isinampa sa kanya,” she said. </p><p>(Anyway, he will be given a chance to face the cases in court)</p><p>Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/21/remulla-on-bantag-we-know-where-he-is-we-will-find-him-soon-1602">expressed confidence that authorities are close to finding Bantag. </a></p><p>Bantag has been evading authorities since he was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa — known to fans as Percy Lapid — who was shot dead near his home in 2022 after supposedly making comments online that appeared to link Bantag to corruption.</p><p>Percy&#x27;s brother, journalist Roy Mabasa, has been calling on government to step up efforts to find Bantag, who he said is being harbored by PNPA classmates and by political allies.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/6/percy-lapid-case-might-be-shelved-if-bantag-remains-at-large-brother-1008">Percy Lapid case might be shelved if Bantag remains at large: brother</a></div><p>&quot;Bakit [kay Pastor Apollo] Quiboloy nagpadala sila ng 2,000 pulis at sa bandang huli sumuko din? Bakit hindi ganun ang gawin nila kay Bantag?&quot; Mabasa said last October.</p><p>(How come when they went after Quiboloy, they were able to send 2,000 cops to eventually make him surrender? Why can&#x27;t they do that for Bantag?)</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman natin sinasabi na ganun [karaming pulis] ang dalhin kay Bantag. Ang pinakikita natin &#x27;yung sigasig ng pulis sana na ito ay gawin,&quot; he added.</p><p>(We&#x27;re not saying they should send that many police officers for Bantag. What we&#x27;re pointing out is the determination of the police, and we hope they show the same effort.)</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CMKlX-KsoHw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Fajardo said the PNP believes Bantag is “still around our country, particularly somewhere up north.”</p>

Fajardo said the PNP believes Bantag is “still around our country, particularly somewhere up north.”