Percival Mabasa, 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 — A fierce broadcast journalist to many, but a soft-hearted father and brother to his family.
This was how Roy Mabasa envisioned his brother Percy Lapid, who was brazenly gunned down at the gate of a Las Piñas City village on Monday night.
“He fought a good fight. Tinuloy niya iyong kanyang pagiging fierce broadcaster-communicator. At iyon nga, nakita niyo naman iyong ginagawa, nag-alay ng buhay si Ka Percy para ipaglaban iyong katotohanan. He is the ultimate truth teller in our generation,” Mabasa told reporters at his brother’s wake on Thursday.
(He fought a good fight. He continued his work as a fierce broadcaster-communicator. And this is what happened. Percy offered his life while fighting on the side of the truth. He is the ultimate truth teller in our generation.)
He saw Lapid as a very private person, but as a journalist himself, he knew that his brother had been receiving piles of death threats given their line of work.
“Kumbaga almusal, hapunan, tanghalian na iyang death threats na iyan,” Mabasa added.
(It seemed like he had death threats for breakfast, dinner, and lunch.)
And while Lapid was known for airing hard-hitting commentaries, Mabasa said his brother was the complete opposite before his family and loved ones.
“Dalawa po ang personality ni Ka Percy, matapang na komentarista sa isang banda, at isang mabait na magulang o tatay sa kabilang banda. Iyon ang hindi nakikita ng public eye. Iyong kanyang pagiging malapit sa kanyang mga anak, sa kanyang asawa. Maging doon sa kanyang mga apo,” Mabasa further noted.
(Percy had two personalities. On one end, he was a fierce commentator, but on the other, he was also a kind parent or father. Unfortunately, this is the side he did not show much to the public – him being close to his children, wife, and even his grandchildren.)
While grief continues to cloud the hearts of Lapid’s bereaved family, Mabasa vowed that they will continue to demand justice for his brother as they trust that authorities would be able to investigate and resolve the case thoroughly. – with reports from Kristelle Anne Razon, Inquirer.net trainee