THE Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila yesterday gave a P1-million fund to the non-government organization Center for People’s Media for a series of projects and activities commemorating the life of slain radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and for press freedom in the country.
The project “Keeping the Flame Alive” will include three forums to be held in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, and Manila on October 3 in time for the first year anniversary on the Oct. 5, 2022 ambush in Las Piñas City that killed Lapid.
Czech Embassy chargé d’affaires Dalibor Mika said the grant is meant to support the rule of law, uphold human rights and protect press freedom.
“This is the main purpose of this project. I am more than confident that this one will support both, and that it will facilitate adherence to freedom of speech and press freedom in the Philippines,” Mika said.
The project also includes the archiving of Lapid’s radio broadcast episodes in a website.
The Department of Justice has filed murder charges against former Bureau of Correction chief Gerald Bantag, his deputy Ricardo Zulueta, and several inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in connection with Lapid’s murder.
Last month, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito sentenced Bantag and Zulueta’s co-accused Mario G. Alvarez, Christian D. Ramac, Ricky L. Salgado, Ronnie P. Dela Cruz and Joel A. Reyes after they pleaded guilty to the lesser offenses of acting as accomplice and accessory to the crime of murder.
The crime was in connection with the killing of Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor alias Jun Villamor, alleged middleman who contacted self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial to do the hit on Lapid.
Galicia, Labra and another Bilibid inmate Alfie Penaredonda were also sentenced by the Las Piñas City RTC from two to eight years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to acting as accessories in Lapid’s killing.
