Percival Mabasa, who was popularly known as Percy Lapid, was killed in an ambush in Las Piñas on Monday night, October 3, 2022. (Photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Police authorities are now working to identify persons of interest in the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid who was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Monday night, an official from Malacañang said Wednesday.
Executive Director of Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Joel Egco said the police have already identified some persons of interest in the killing of Lapid but further investigation is needed.
“The last information that I got is they’re working on some persons of interest already but, of course, it requires further investigation,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.
“All of us are on our toes so we keep each other in a loop. I hope this turns into something good and hopefully magkaroon ng breakthrough in the coming days,” Egco added.
He made assurance that the task force is in “close coordination” with the police, especially with the Las Piñas City police chief Col. Jaime Santos and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) media vanguards led by PNP spokesman Gen. Roderick Alba.
The Palace official likewise expressed alarm over the fact that Lapid is the first journalist killing in Metro Manila “for the longest time in so many years.”
“For the longest time, this is the only time again that it happened here [in Metro Manila]. So it’s a challenge for us. It’s alarming. It requires now a deeper look into the status of our media friends in the capital region,” Egco said.
Asked if the slay was work-related, Egco said it is a “matter of policy” that PTFoMS considers any journalist killing as work-related so the task force can “come in and conduct its own investigation.”
Percival Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid, a DWBL radio commentator, was shot dead Monday night at the gate of BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Piñas.