Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former Deputy Officer Ricardo Zulueta are now considered to be fugitives, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
This was confirmed by PNP Public Information Office chief Red Maranan, stating that authorities have been looking for Bantag, Zulueta, and three others following the issuance warrant of arrest against them.
Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 254 presiding judge Harold Huliganga also orders the arrest of Israel Dimaculangan, Edmon Dimaculangan, and Alias Orly.
The PNP has launched a manhunt to track down the whereabouts of Bantag and the four others.
Maranan said the warrant was brought to Bantag's home in Caloocan and Zulueta's home in Bulacan, but they were both not home at that time.
Both Bantag and Zulueta were indicted last month for two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and Jun Villamor, the supposed middleman in the journalists slay.
