Marcos wants closer look at cause of death of middleman in Percy Lapid killing

This 2019 file photo shows Persons Deprived of Liberty at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

The STAR / Ernie Penaredondo, file

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he is not convinced that one of the alleged middlemen in the murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid who was found to have died at the New Bilibid Prison died of natural causes.

The investigation into the killing hit a setback with the reported death of Jun Villamor, the man whom confessed gunman Joel Escorial said arranged the murder, inside the NBP. Villamor's death has led to the suspension of corrections chief Gerald Bantag pending results of an investigation into possible lapses at the national penitentiary.

Marcos said that a toxicology report showed that Villamor was not poisoned or drugged, but "we still, I am still not satisfied that it was natural causes so sabi ko tignan ninyong mabuti (I told them to look closer) because there are ways to kill a person that do not show up in the medico-legal."

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/26/2219449/marcos-wants-closer-look-cause-death-middleman-percy-lapid-killing