MANILA, Philippines — Protect the “middleman in prison” who supposedly relayed the order to kill Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, and trace the source of money deposited to confessed gunman Joel Escorial’s bank account.
Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa made the plea to police investigators handling the case of the slain broadcaster, the second journalist killed under the Marcos administration.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, `Mabasa recounted his meeting and crime scene walkthrough with Escorial, who earlier revealed to the public that “someone from Bilibid” gave the order to kill Lapid.
Bilibid is the common term for the New Bilibid Prison – the country’s main penitentiary managed by the Bureau of Corrections under the Department of Justice – located in Muntinlupa City.
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
Mabasa said Escorial told him the same thing when they met on Tuesday night but that the 39-year-old suspect, who reportedly surrendered to authorities a couple of days ago out of fear and remorse, has no “direct knowledge or contact with the mastermind.”
READ: Percy Lapid’s brother believes confessed gunman’s story, but not 100%
“Hinihiling namin sa pulis na i-save nila iyong buhay noong nasa kulungan sapagkat siya ay vital upang malutas itong kasong ito. Middleman ang magtuturo sa mastermind,” he said.
(We are requesting the police to save the life of the one involved from inside the prison because this is vital in solving the case. The middleman will lead us to the mastermind.)
“Hindi pa po identified iyong mastermind pero itong middleman, hopefully, ma-preserve ito at iyan ang magiging pag-asa natin para matunton natin ang mastermind.”
(The mastermind has not yet been named but, hopefully, this middleman can be preserved as he will serve as our hope in finally identifying the mastermind.)
In a press briefing Tuesday where he was presented to the public, Escorial also mentioned that a total of P550,000 had been distributed among the group’s six members after the veteran radioman was killed in an ambush near the village he lived last October 3.
Escorial said that from the amount, his share was about P140,000, which has been deposited into his bank account.
READ: Confessed gunman in Percy Lapid killing surrenders, tags 3 other suspects
“Kinonfirm niya sa atin na iyan ay bank account niya kaya diyan, makakita tayo ng magandang lead riyan kung sino ang nag-deposito ng pera roon sa bank account niya,” he added.
(He confirmed to us that it is his personal bank account and from there, we can see a good lead on who deposited the money into his bank account.)
A complaint for murder was filed Wednesday against Escorial and three others – brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain “Orlando” or “Orly” whom he tagged as his partners in crime – before the Department of Justice (DOJ). Escorial is the only suspect under police custody.
Mabasa appeared before the DOJ and subscribed to the complaint-affidavit.