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PBBM unconvinced middleman in Lapid slay died of natural causes

By Azer Parrocha

October 26, 2022, 8:31 pm Updated on October 27, 2022, 11:39 am

<p>President Ferdinand R. Marcos <em>(File photo)</em></p>

President Ferdinand R. Marcos (File photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos is not convinced that inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña, the alleged middleman in the slaying of broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa, died of natural causes.

Marcos made this remark following results of the autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which showed that “there were no apparent signs of external physical injury.”

“The toxicology report came back and mukha talagang walang ano – walang lason o walang gamot na ibinigay doon sa namatay (The toxicology report came back and it looks like there was no poison or drugs given to the deceased),” Marcos told reporters in a chance interview on Wednesday.

“I am still not satisfied that it was natural causes. So sabi ko, tingnan niyo nang mabuti (So I said, look at it closely) because there are ways to kill a person that do not show up in the medico legal. So tuloy-tuloy pa ang imbestigasyon (So, the investigation continues),” he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos assured that he has been talking to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos several times daily to get updates on the Lapid killing

Asked if he would issue any directive to the police, Marcos expressed confidence in the country’s police force.

“The police know what to do. I’ll just get in the way. Alam ko… Imbestigahan ninyo nang mabuti. Alamin natin nang mabuti kung sinong behind this (I know you’ll investigate this thoroughly. Let’s really find out who’s behind this),” he said.

“But more importantly, is to really trace saan nanggaling ito (where this started)? Who gave the order? Sino ‘yung nagbigay doon sa preso na orderin ang shooter na gawin ito at bakit (Who told the shooter to do this and why)? That is what we are working on now,” he added.

According to an initial report from the NBI, Palaña died inside the prison hospital on Oct. 18, allegedly of natural causes, on the same day self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial was presented to the media and pointed to him as one of the middlemen in the killing of Mabasa.

The autopsy findings showed that Palaña’s heart “showed a hemorrhagic area over the left ventricle.”

Lapid was gunned down at the gate of a subdivision on Aria Street, Barangay Talon Dos, in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3.

Malacañang earlier assured that the Marcos administration is committed to protecting the independence, rights, and security of all journalists and media workers in the country.

During the President’s Night organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club at the Sofitel Plaza last Oct. 5, Marcos himself vowed to support and protect media rights under his administration as well as listen to all their concerns.

“Under my lead, we will support and protect the rights of the media as they efficiently perform their duty. Whatever difficulties we may encounter from this point on, the government will always be ready to lend an ear and to listen to your concerns and to answer all that you may want to know,” he said in his speech.

New names appear

Meanwhile, the Southern Police District said Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman in the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa also known as "Percy Lapid", mentioned new names in the additional extrajudicial confessions that he has submitted.

SPD director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, also the commander of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Percy Lapid, said they have submitted a supplemental affidavit of Escorial to state prosecutors.

"Sa ngayon ay may mga bago siyang revelation at kahapon nga po ay nagsubmit tayo ng additional extrajudicial confession na kung saan may mga ibang tao siyang nabanggit at ito nga po ay subject for investigation na rin natin (Right now he has new revelations and yesterday we submitted an additional extrajudicial confession in which he mentioned other people and this is the subject of our investigation as well)," Kraft said in a press briefing Wednesday.

Kraft said the new names mentioned by Escorial will be a big help in identifying the brains behind the killing of Mabasa.

Escorial earlier tagged brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a certain Orly, as his companions in the hit job.

He said they were paid PHP550,000 for killing Mabasa.

Kraft said they have coordinated with the NBP to secure three more inmates named by the sister of Cristito Villamor Palaña, the alleged middleman in Mabasa's killing.

Before his death, Palaña allegedly told his sister that there were three gang leaders inside the New Bilibid Prison who tapped him to kill Mabasa. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

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