In a press conference, Remulla said he was not immediately informed about the identity of the alleged “middleman” who, according to the confessed gunman Joel Escorial, was inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“Ang sakin lang, sayang. If I was informed that we have to secure somebody inside Bilibid, that could have been done very early. Like last night, they requested me to secure the other possible witness and in one and a half hours, the person was already with the police, we were able to secure the person immediately. But I was not informed by the police about this,” he said.
“Coordination is very important and there was probably a shortcoming there. Hindi kami nakapag coordinate kasi nga hindi naman kami ang nagi-investigate and probably in the excitement of things it was forgotten or maybe na-forgo nila ang coordination na kinakailangan sa bagay na ito,” he added.
(We were not able to coordinate because we were not the ones investigating and probably in the excitement of things, it was forgotten or maybe they forgot the coordination required in this matter.)
Remulla was referring to Jun Globa Villamor who was identified as the person who allegedly gave the kill order against Lapid.
Villamor died inside the NBP on October 18, the day after Escorial surrendered to the police.
Remulla said it was only on Thursday that he was informed that a person from inside the Bilibid was involved in the incident.
He said on October 19, the chief of police of Muntinlupa City inquired to the NBP about an inmate named Crisanto Villamor and he got a certification that there is no such person detained in the facility.
However, Remulla said Jun and Crisanto Villamor is one in the same person.
Villamor has been convicted of the crime of murder, frustrated murder and violation of the gun ban.
Remulla said there is one more alleged middleman who took part in the crime and he is now under the custody of the police in the PNP custodial center.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the preventive suspension of Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag to ensure the partiality of the investigation, especially on the death of Villamor.
Remulla said Villamor’s body had already undergone an autopsy examination to identify the cause of death.
Remulla said he is also aware of the tirades of Lapid months ago against an official of the Bucor.
He said he has already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look at all the possible motives of the killing. (SunStar Philippines)