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Solon lauds DILG for giving Percy Lapid slay case high priority

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

October 19, 2022, 6:26 pm

<p>Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos<em> (File photo)</em></p>

Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos (File photo)

MANILA – Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos on Wednesday lauded Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. for giving high priority to the murder case of broadcaster Percival Mabasa also known as "Percy Lapid".

"I laud the police work of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Southern Police District and the PNP NCRPO on the Percy Lapid case. I also thank the Department of [the] Interior and Local Government (DILG), Secretary Benhur Abalos, for continuing to give the Percy Lapid case a high priority," Delos Santos said in a statement.

In relation to the case, Delos Santos said related bills on media workers' protection and crime solution are currently pending at the committee level.

Delos Santos, who serves as House Deputy Majority Leader, said House Bill 1924 on the protection of media workers is with the House Committee on Labor and Employment, while House Bill 5129 on forensic pathology scholarships is pending at the Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

"I will also be communicating soon to the Commission on Higher Education our thoughts on updating the college curriculum of those courses that have relevance to preventing, analyzing, and solving crimes," he said.

He expressed hope that the PNP-DILG shall continue to keep the public posted regularly on every development in the murder case.

“Again, we thank our law enforcement agencies for this welcome development and we will not relent until real justice is achieved," he said.

In a presser at Camp Crame on Tuesday, self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial said he surrendered to the police “out of fear for his personal safety” after his photo was released last week and a PHP6.5-million bounty was placed on his head.

Abalos, meanwhile, said the results of the ballistics tests and forensic evidence obtained by authorities at the crime scene matched with the weapon used by Escorial, adding that the gunman would not have identified five of his cohorts and solely admitted to the killing if he was a "fall guy".

Abalos said Lapid's brother, journalist Roy Mabasa, also joined the police in a walkthrough of the crime scene.

Mabasa expressed hope that the resolution of his brother's killing is within reach through the cooperation of the gunman.

Mabasa added that the resolution of the case is a breakthrough in the campaign against media killings.

He said the walkthrough was also able to address doubts on the difference between the appearance of the suspect as seen from the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage and the suspect's actual appearance has been clarified.

"The suspect had a haircut. I'm not sure how he looks based on the initial footages obtained by the PNP. Nevertheless, I had a lengthy and meaty conversation with the gunman and we asked him to cooperate. It is now up to the police to investigate and conduct operations to catch the mastermind," he said.

Abalos noted that authorities are now waiting for the other suspects – alias "Orly/Orlando", and Edmond Dimaculangan and Israel Dimaculangan, the guys initially named by Escorial as his accomplices in the crime to surrender as their images were also made public. (PNA)


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