The family of slain newsman Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa met with officials at the Department of Justice Wednesday and expressed guarded optimism over developments in the case.
Mabasa’s brother, Roy Mabasa, met with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and representatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to get an update on the assassination of Percy in a Las Piñas suburb last October 3.
“Nagkaroon po kami ng maikling case conference with SOJ [Secretary of Justice] Remulla saka ’yung mga kinatawan ng NBI upang malaman po namin bilang pamilya, miyembro ng pamilya ni Ka Percy ’yung progreso sa isinasagawang imbestigasyon. Kami po naman ay nagpapasalamat sa DOJ, sa NBI at maging sa PNP sa kanilang mga ginagawang pagkilos upang malutas natin itong pagpatay sa aking kapatid at matunton kung sino ang nasa likod nito kasama ’yung mga tinutukoy na mastermind [We had a brief case conference with Secretary Remulla and the representative of the NBI to update the family on the progress of the investigation being undertaken. We are thankful to the DOJ, NBI and the PNP on their moves to solve this case and find the mastermind in the killing],” Roy said.
Mabasa said they were shown a timeline of events and sworn statements of potential witnesses, saying they were also promised substantial developments in the case by the end of the week.
“Pinakita sa amin ’yung mga timeline and affidavits ng mga kanilang kinausap so far naintindihan ko kung bakit doon sila nakatuon kasi may mga corroboration ’yung mga statements doon sa mga personalidad na nabanggit [We were shown the timeline and affidavits on why they were focusin on certain personalities because there were corroboration in the statements on these personalities],” he said.
“It’s going well so far, but as I said, I will reserve our comments until Friday pag nabuo na po ito. medyo gumugulong na po ang kaso [when it is done. The investigation on the case has started],” he added.
Mabasa also said they welcome plans to provide the family of Percy with temporary security personnel, short of having them placed under the government’s witness protection program (WPP), following threats made to them.
“Actually in principle we agree dun sa security but not the WPP program itself kasi sa ngayon nalilimitahan na ’yung aming mga galaw bilang pamilya, especially mga anak ni Ka Percy, subalit kung ilalagay ko sa WPP ay lalo na siguro sila makukulong [right now, the family limits its movements and if we are placed under WPP it would have more resrictions]. So, ang iniisip namin ay bigyan na lang ng seguridad, siguro, nag agree naman si Secretary Remulla even a few days ago kaya ’yun ’yung gagawin natin [So, what we thought was to provide security and Secretary Remulla agreed so that is what we will do],” he said.
Mabasa said the family’s kin in Tuguegarao province has likewise received threats. Percy was shot dead while on board his car last October 3 in a Las Piñas City suburb. An individual, Joel Escorial, has since come forward claiming to be the gunman and part of a team who planned the attack.
CEGP’s ‘Undas’ prayer for slain journalists
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his All Saints’ Day, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines prays for the souls of slain journalists Rey Blanco and Percy Lapid.
Blanco, an anchorman for Mabinay, Negros Oriental-based Power 102.1 DYRY RFM, was known as the first journalist killed under the Marcos Jr. administration. He was stabbed in the neck on September 19.
Gunned down on October 3 while on the way to his broadcast studio, Lapid was the second journalist killed during the Marcos Jr. regime. He was popular with his hard-hitting commentaries on political figures and issues on his online show “Lapid Fire.”
Blanco’s case was already closed as his perpetrator surrendered to the authorities. It was, however, a different story for Lapid’s case.
Currently, the investigation into Lapid’s case is still ongoing with his confessed gunman naming suspected middlemen inside the New Bilibid Prison. One of the identified middlemen, Jun Villamor, has since died at the same time the gunman showed up in the media. An independent autopsy showed he died of suffocation under mysterious circumstances.
The Guild thus hopes that rightful justice will be served for Blanco and Lapid as soon as possible.
As killings of journalists in the country go brazen day-by-day, perpetrators and those who failed to ensure the safety and security of media workers must be made accountable.
We enjoin our fellow Guilders, the journalism community, and all freedom-loving Filipinos to give a moment of silence for Blanco and Lapid as well as all journalists killed in service of truth and democracy.
With an administration that forces people to forget and just move on, let us always choose to remember. PNA