Percy Lapid’s brother says BuCor must be held accountable for alleged middleman’s death

Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa (Videograb from FB page of Percy Lapid Fire)

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) must be held accountable for the death in the New Bilibid Prisons of one of the alleged middlemen in the plot to kill broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, his brother, journalist Roy Mabasa said on Friday. 

“Samantalang nasa loob ng facility ‘yan. Kaya siguro, once and for all, panagutin nila yang Bureau of Corrections na yan,” the slain broadcaster’s brother said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

(The alleged middleman was inside the prison facility. Once and for all, the Bureau of Corrections must be held accountable.)

“Sa nangyari na ‘to, it just shows na the justice system here is not really functioning. Kasi nakikita mo, in broad daylight, namamatay nalang yung isang tao ng hindi natin alam ng anong circumstances,” Mabasa added.

(It goes to show that the justice system here is not functioning, because in broad daylight, a person dies under uncertain circumstances.)

The alleged middleman’s death is the latest twist in the slay case.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said that the agency is probing the middleman’s death,  and  that foul play has yet to be ruled out.

Mabasa added that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, several high-profile inmates died, yet there were no updates about anyone being held accountable.

The slain broadcaster’s family will also contact a medical examiner to conduct an independent autopsy of the alleged middleman’s cadaver, said Mabasa. 

“Just to ensure na alam namin ang talagang nangyari, kagaya ng sinasabi namin sa ‘yo. Hindi na namin alam kung sino ang tatakbuhan,” he said.

(Just to ensure that we know what really happened, like we told you. We do not know who else to turn to). 

Lapid was a fierce critic of the previous administration.

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