Suspended Bureau of Correction (BuCor) Gerald Bantag on Monday arrived at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila to attend the second preliminary probe on the slay cases of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito ‘Jun’ Villamor.

This is the first time Bantag appeared since he was tagged as the “mastermind” in the murder of Lapid and Villamor.

In an ambush interview with the media, Bantag denied the allegations that he had been hiding.

“Mag su-submit kami ng documents kasama ang abogado ko. Balita kasi na ‘yung Igorot, nagtatago pero hindi nagtatago,” he told the reporters.

Last Nov. 23, the first scheduled preliminary investigation was stalled due to an error in Bantag’s middle name in the issued subpoena. His lawyer Rocky Thomas Balisong earlier stressed that the issued subpoena was intended for a different person and not his client.

Meanwhile, in a separate ambush interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla welcomed Bantag’s presence in the probe.

“Mabuti naman. Igalang niya ang batas. Sana lagi niyang igagalang ang batas mula ng simula,” he said.

Remulla said he has not met and talked to Bantag yet.

“May pupuntahan ako. Wala tayo drama rito. Harapin niya lang ang kaso, tapos na,” he added.