Ricardo Zulueta, one of the accused in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said there was no foul play in the death of Ricardo Zulueta, one of the accused in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in affirmative when asked if there was no foul play in the death of Zulueta who died of heart failure.
“Iyong mismong kapatid po ang nagdala sa hospital at even po ‘yung common law wife po ni Mr. Zulueta ang magkakasama po sila doon,” she said.
“A night before na dumating so noong nag-complain na parang naninikip na ang dibdib ay dinala agad nila sa ospital. However, binawian din po ng buhay,” she added.
Citing the death certificate, Fajardo said Zulueta’s cause of death was cerebrovascular disease intracranial hemorrhage, which means there was bleeding in his head.
Zulueta, 42, a former Bureau of Corrections official, was rushed to the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Dinalupihan town and declared dead at 11 p.m. on Friday, according to the police.
Zulueta’s body was then brought to a funeral home and later transferred to Barangay Mabiga in Hermosa town.
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.
In April 2023, a Muntinlupa court ordered the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta in connection with the death of Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of Lapid.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Sunday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to verify the authenticity of a ”circulating death certificate” of Zulueta.
