Romualdez lauds arrest of suspect in Percy Lapid killing

Percy Lapid was the host of “Lapid Fire” over AM radio station DWBL. (Photo from a video on the Facebook page of Lapid Fire)

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez praised law enforcers on Tuesday for arresting the confessed gunman behind the killing of radio commentator Percy Lapid.

“We in the House of Representatives welcome this positive development in the unfortunate crime that took the life of Percy Lapid. We applaud the efforts of SILG Abalos and the police to swiftly resolve the case,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“And the arrest of a suspect in the shooting of Lapid is indeed a welcome development. We hope that this arrest leads to the apprehension of the other suspects in the gruesome murder of Lapid and the resolution of the case.”

The House speaker was referring to Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., who presided over a news conference arranged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame.

At the conference, where the suspect was presented, Abalos confirmed that 39-year-old Joel Escorial surrendered to the PNP for his own safety.

Escorial named three others involved in killing Lapid, Percival Mabasa in real life, last Oct. 3 right outside the gate of the Las Piñas subdivision where he lived.

Lapid hosted his own online program “Lapid Fire,” where he issued hot takes and commentaries against the current and the previous administration.

In his statement, Romualdez said: “The protection of members of the Fourth Estate is of paramount importance as they play a vital role in nation-building.”

Before the suspect was arrested, House members pitched in for a reward for anyone who could pinpoint those behind the Lapid killing. They were able to raise P5 million, which pushed the total reward to P6.5 million.

Many netizens speculated that Escorial might just be a fall guy. But Abalos insisted he was a suspect, as empty slugs found on the crime scene matched the gun held by Escorial.

Escorial’s clothes also were said to have matched the images released by the police prior to his arrest.

Meanwhile, Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa said his family was asking the PNP for a walkthrough with the suspect, to test his credibility and to put to rest speculation.

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