HARD-HITTING radio commentator Percival Lapid Mabasa, more popularly known for his radio name as “Percy Lapid,” was shot dead on Monday night in Las Pinas City by a still unidentified gunman, police said.
Mabasa, who has spared no one, especially government officials, from sharp criticism in his radio program known as “Lapid Fire” died from gunshot wounds in the head.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), in a news statement, said it has created a special investigation task force to probe the fatal shooting.
“The PNP vows to bring justice to an attack against a member of the media industry,” the PNP said. “Investigation is under way to determine the culprits and motive of this case.”
“A Special Investigation Task Force (TF) was already created by Las Piñas City Station of NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) to spearhead and coordinate the investigative and prosecutorial efforts of the PNP,” the statement read.
Lapid, brother of former National Press Club president Roy Mabasa, was a broadcaster for radio station DWBL at the time of his death.
Mabasa, had also worked previously as a commentator for radio station DWIZ, part of the ALC Media Group.
“One of the famous commentators on radio and a former broadcaster of DWIZ 882 KHZ AM, Percy Lapid, was ambushed and died in Las Piñas City at past 8 this evening,” fellow radio broadcaster Marou Sarne of DWIZ wrote on Facebook on Monday night.
According to an initial report by the police, Mabasa was shot at around 8:30 p.m. by the motorcycle-riding gunman at the gate of BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Pinas.
Police said a Toyota Fortuner, driven by a man thought to be an accomplice of the gunman, bumped the rear portion of the Toyota Innova driven by Mabasa before the suspect appeared and shot him.
The suspect escaped after the killing.
Image credits: Jimbo Docena Albano