By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Not convinced that there’s no foul play on the sudden death of former Bureau of Corrections Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, a co-accused in the killing of hard-hitting broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, no less than Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday (20 March 2024) ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to seek help from forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.

“Unravel the truth, leave no stone unturned, and don’t let anyone or anything prevent us from pursuing accountability and delivering justice,” Remulla underscored in a statement.

Citing reports, the DOJ noted that Zulueta died shortly after he was brought to a hospital by his brother due to severe chest pains.

On Monday (18 March 2024), PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo answered “Yes po” when asked in a press conference whether there was no foul play.

“Iyong mismong kapatid po ang nagdala sa hospital at even po ‘yung common law wife po ni Mr. Zulueta ang magkakasama po sila doon,” Fajardo said.

But the DOJ observed that Zulueta’s death certificate “showed that the cause of death was cerebrovascular disease intracranial hemorrhage which brings confusion as to the real cause of death.”

The DOJ said Zulueta has a pending warrant of arrest along with former BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag over the alleged murder of Lapid and inmate Jun Villamor, an alleged middleman in the crime.

For his part, Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. bewailed that Zulueta died before he could have been arrested and provided information on the Lapid case.

“Sa hustisyang ating hinahanap malaking bagay sana ito, to really solve this thing, napakalaking bagay nito,” Abalos lamented.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Stressing that Ricardo Zulueta was originally tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing of his brother Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, veteran journalist and former National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) president Roy Mabasa has asked for an “independent autopsy” on the body of the former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official who reportedly died of bleeding in his head.

This developed even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained on Monday (18 March 2024) that there was no foul play in Zulueta’s death.

Mabasa said ”an independent autopsy report would assuage the public that we are indeed after the truth.”

”We would like the PNP to ascertain the real cause of his death since he was originally tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing of @lapidfire,” Mabasa further said on X (formerly Twitter).

For his part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Sunday (17 March 2024) ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to verify the authenticity of a ”circulating death certificate” of Zulueta.

“We are still looking into the veracity of these reports and will update the public as soon as we receive word from the NBI,” Remulla said.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo answered “Yes po” when asked in a press conference if there was no foul play.

“Iyong mismong kapatid po ang nagdala sa hospital at even po ‘yung common law wife po ni Mr. Zulueta ang magkakasama po sila doon,” Fajardo said.

She added: “A night before na dumating noong nag-complain na parang naninikip na ang dibdib ay dinala agad nila sa ospital. However, binawian din po ng buhay.”

Citing the death certificate, the PNP spokesperson said Zulueta’s cause of death was cerebrovascular disease intracranial hemorrhage, which means there was bleeding in his head.

According to police, Zulueta, 42, was rushed to the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Dinalupihan town and declared dead at 11 p.m. on Friday (15 March 2024).

It can be recalled that in March 2023, Zulueta was charged in court, along with former BuCor chief Gerald Bantag, with two counts of murder over the alleged killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor on October 3 and 18, 2022, respectively.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Charged as one of the alleged brains in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, former deputy security officer of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Ricardo Zulueta has passed away due to heart failure.

On Saturday (16 March 2024), police said Zulueta, 42, was dead on arrival at the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Dinalupihan town at 11 p.m. Friday (15 March 2024).

A police report said it was Zulueta’s brother Ronald who rushed him to the hospital.

Zulueta’s body was then brought to a funeral home and later transferred to Barangay Mabiga in Hermosa town.

Last year, Zulueta was charged in court, along with former BuCor chief Gerald Bantag, with two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.

To recall, in March 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said “It was respondent Zulueta who provided the amount of P350,000 as additional payment to the hitman/killer and told respondent (Alvin) Labra that respondent Bantag is thanking them for the assassination.”

On Friday, June 23, 2023, Las Pinas City Regional Trial Court Branch 254 Presiding Judge Harold Cesar Hulinganga sentenced Bilibid gang leaders Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra, and Alfie Peñaredonda for being accessories in the killing of Lapid.

(el Amigo/MNM)