INVESTIGATORS are “backtracking” on the radio program of slain broadcaster/commentator Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, as they continue to look for possible motive behind his slaying in Las Piñas City last Monday night.
Southern Police District (SPD) director Col. Kirby John Kraft said probers under the Special Investigation Task Group are looking at several personalities who are the subject of Lapid’s hard-hitting program, “Lapid on Fire.”
“We are reviewing his program since he mentioned many personalities there, so we have to conduct a process of elimination to check who among these personalities is a possible suspect. We have yet to arrive at a point where we could say a certain personality is considered a person of interest in the case,” Kraft said.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. visited the wake of Lapid in Parañaque City and said the police force is looking at “different persons of interest.” He also assured the victim’s family of justice for the “senseless” killing.
Azurin said he has ordered Kraft to closely check the areas where Mabasa passed prior to his ambush.
Mabasa was driving his Toyota Innova when he was shot by two assailants onboard a motorcycle at around 8:30 p.m. at the gate of the BF Resort Village in Las Piñas.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III, reacting to the ambush of Lapid, said ending the culture of violence and impunity is one of the biggest challenges the Marcos administration is facing.
“The killing of veteran broadcast journalist and radio commentator Percy Lapid is yet another proof of a long-standing culture of violence and impunity in the country. We condemn this violent act. This is a challenge to the Marcos administration,” Pimentel said in a statement.
Pimentel called on authorities to “resolve the killing” not only of Lapid, but the killings of lawyers, journalists, and judges, as well.
“Let’s put an end to this culture of impunity. The government should create a safe environment for journalists and the rest of our citizens,” he added.
Pimentel said the killing of Lapid only validates what the Global Impunity Index has warned — that the Philippines is one of the deadliest countries for journalists.
Based on the Committee to Protect Journalists ranking in 2021, the Philippines ranked 7th among the worst countries for journalists.
Pimentel said based on CPJ records, there are 13 unresolved killings of journalists over the past 10 years.
Kraft said he personally talked to Lapid’ younger brother, Roy Mabasa, a former president of the National Press Club, to ask for help to speed up the investigation.
Kraft said probers are also coordinating with Lapid’s family if he received death threats prior to the ambush.
SPD Deputy Director for Operations Col. Restituto Arcangel said probers are looking at other CCTVs in the area to identify Lapid’s assailants. But he added no witness has come out so far who could identify the assailants and the possible motive behind the attack.
Arcangel assured the Lapid family, colleagues and the public that the police will leave no stone unturned in their probe, adding the investigation is being done at the district level, meaning the SPD, with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Intelligence and other units.
Lapid was a known critic of President Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
His last broadcast was aired on September 30 where he discussed the dangers of red-tagging, historical revisionism and the risk posed by the operation of offshore gaming corporations, among other political issues.
“As of now we are still determining what is the motive because we’re looking into many personalities, there are many (possible) angles,” Azurin said. “At this point in time, we are really very careful in determining the motive of the killing of Sir Percy Lapid.”
Azurin said when he visited Lapid’s wake, he gave his family “the assurance that the PNP will closely look, investigate this case until we identify, arrest and charge all those involved in his death.”
Azurin appealed to people who have knowledge of the killing to come forward and help in the resolution of the case.
During the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, National Capital Region Police spokesman Lt. Col. Dexter Versola said investigators are subjecting to ballistic tests the bullets recovered at the crime scene. — With Victor Reyes
