The Manila Times

P500K reward for arrest of Lapid killers

BY FRANCIS EARL CUETO, KRISTINA MARALIT AND ARIC JOHN CUA

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said he was offering a P500,000 reward for any information that might lead to the arrest of the killers of broadcaster Percy Lapid (Percival Mabasa).

“I’m taking this on my own as a family friend. I’m offering P500,000 of my own money for any information,” Abalos said, adding he is hopeful that the bounty will hasten the resolution of the case.

Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa thanked Abalos.

“Maganda rin ‘yung magbibigay sila ng pabuya (Giving reward is a good idea), because that will help hasten the process of investigation,” he said.

Lapid, a critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte and President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr., was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Monday.

Lapid was the host of the online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for the Hataw tabloid.

Col. Restituto Arcangel, commander and spokesman for the special investigation task force for the case, said that footage from Lapid’s dashcam camera showed “suspicious” motorcycle-riding men near the victim’s car before he was gunned down.

Gunshots were heard in the video before the motorcycle-riding men, believed to be Lapid’s killers, fled the scene.

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Unit will subject the video to a thorough forensic examination.

Businessman and lawyer Alexander Lopez on Tuesday offered a P1 million reward for any information leading to the arrest of the assassins.

A message from the President

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday visited the wake of Lapid at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City to deliver a message from Malacañang.

“Mariin ang utos ng Presidente na maimbestigahan itong kaso (the President was firm in his directive for this case to be investigated). Everything will be done to get to the bottom of this crime,” Bersamin said, adding that the Presidential Task Force on Media Security was directed to exhaust all efforts to hasten the resolution of the case.

Meanwhile, the Germany-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned Lapid’s killing and called on the Marcos administration to protect journalists.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must end the culture of impunity that surrounds the killing of Filipino journalists. This cannot continue as business as usual,” the CPJ posted on its website.

In its 2021 Global Impunity Index, the CPJ ranked the Philippines 7th behind Mexico, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq, Syria and Somalia.

Diplomatic missions in the Philippines have also expressed their concern over Mabasa’s murder.

“[The Japanese] Embassy expresses its grave concern about the killing of broadcast commentator Mr. Percival Mabasa by unidentified assailants and its deepest condolences to his family,” the Japanese embassy wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

“Freedom of expression is essential to building the future the people of the Philippines want and deserve . ... We welcome law enforcement agencies’ investigation into Mr. Percival Mabasa’s death,” the United States Embassy wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

Germany’s ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel also issued a statement on the killing.

“Germany remains committed to advocate for freedom of the press and of speech . ... Those responsible for this crime must be brought to justice,” Reiffenstuel wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

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2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281784222986146

The Manila Times