THE Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday put up a P2 million and P1 million reward, respectively, for information that could lead to the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, the alleged masterminds in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

Bantag and Zulueta, along with three other suspects are the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court in connection with the killing of Mabasa on October 3, 2022 in Las Piñas City.

Presiding Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 also issued an arrest warrant against Bantag and Zulueta for the killing of New Bilibid Prison inmate Jun VIllarmor, an alleged middleman in Mabasa’s murder.

The Muntinlupa court also issued a hold departure order (HDO) against the duo to prevent them from leaving the country.

Bantag and his co-accused were charged with murder by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Bantag and Zulueta are still in the country. — William B. Depasupil