Bullets, belongings found but no Bantag in NBI raid on 2 suspected hideouts

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday raided the suspected hideouts of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, the alleged mastermind in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, in Laguna and Caloocan City to serve the arrest warrant against him.

According to John Consulta’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, Bantag was not found in both houses.

The NBI conducted the raids after receiving information of alleged sightings of Bantag in the area from their sources. Neighbors told the agents that they observed movement inside the houses but these individuals would quickly leave.

For the one in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the NBI had to use a sledgehammer to enter the house.

They declared that there was no one inside the house in Santa Rosa after a few minutes of searching. However, the operatives found nine bullets inside that were dated April 2.

Meanwhile, though Bantag was also not present at the house in Caloocan, the operatives found some firearms as well as personal effects believed to be that of Bantag. 

Authorities said the hunt for Bantag is ongoing.

The raid took place weeks after former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, another accused in the killing of Lapid, passed away on March 15 due to heart failure. However, his death certificate showed that his cause of death was cerebrovascular disease intracranial hemorrhage, which means there was bleeding in his head.

The two were charged with two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor. Their arrest warrants were issued by a Muntinlupa court and a Las Piñas court in April 2023.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) previously said a cash reward of P2 million will be given for information on the whereabouts of Bantag while P1 million would have been given for Zulueta.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3, 2022, while Villamor died at the NBP on October 18.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.” —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA Integrated News