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 — The middleman in prison, who allegedly relayed the order to kill Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, has not been convicted yet, but is facing drug-related charges.
Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Philippine National Police (PNP) Office of the Deputy Chief for Administration, said this on Thursday as he confirmed that they had identified the middleman through confessed gunman Joel Escorial’s extrajudicial confession.
READ: Percy Lapid slay case: Gunman says ‘someone from Bilibid’ gave kill order
“The middleman who contacted Joel Escorial is now in jail,” Sermonia told ABS-CBN News’ Headstart.
Asked if the middleman has been convicted, Sermonia said: “He is still undergoing trial, awaiting a decision.”
Sermonia’s statement debunks theories that the middleman is from inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City since only convicted criminals are held inside the facility.
Sermonia later confirmed that the middleman is facing drug-related charges.
Lapid’s brother, veteran journalist Roy Mabasa, earlier requested for the PNP to safeguard the middleman, citing his crucial role in leading the investigation to the mastermind.
READ: Percy Lapid case: Police urged to protect ‘middleman in prison’, trace money source for hit
With this in mind, Sermonia ascertained that the police have since coordinated with the officer-in-charge of the particular detention cell to ensure the protection and security of the middleman.
He noted, however, that the middleman has not been transferred to another jail facility since that will require a certain procedure.
“We cannot just transfer him immediately. We have to secure a court order before we can transfer detainees. The best that we have done so far is to coordinate it with the one in charge of the detention cell, so that security will be given to him,” Sermonia explained in a mix of Filipino and English.
He also pointed out that police investigators have not yet established “an in-depth investigation on the relationship of Joel Escorial with the middleman.”
“Ang sinabi niya po sa statement niya, very generic po kasi (What he said in his statement was very generic). He was just contacted. He did not specify and of course, we respect whatever statement he gave us because when he gave his statement, it was under the supervision of his own lawyer,” Sermonia added.
A murder complaint has been lodged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Escorial and three others – brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain “Orly” or “Orlando” – whom he linked to the fatal ambush of Lapid last October 3.