House adopts resolution condemning Percy Lapid killing

Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa —videograb from Facebook page of Percy Lapid Fire

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution condemning the “senseless killing” of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid, with the legislative body also expressing concern on the safety of journalists.

House Resolution No. 489 authored by House leaders including Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, and Minority Floor Leader and 4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan was adopted on Monday, as the session resumed.

The adoption was made through viva voce voting.

The said resolution was filed last October 20, but it was not acted upon as the House was in recess during the time.  The House went on a recess after September 28’s session, Lapid, real life Percival Mabasa, on the other hand was killed outside the subdivision he lived in last October 3.

“Local and international journalists were outraged and deeply saddened by the killing of Mr. Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ C. Mabasa, and they considered this dastardly act as an attack to the freedom of speech and of the press that must be stopped in order to save and maintain democracy,” the resolution read.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ C. Mabasa and to express grave concern for the safety and security of journalists in the country,” it added.

Lapid’s death has prompted a wide manhunt for the assailant, who eventually surrendered to police.  The hitman, Joel Escorial, admitted to the public that a middleman detained inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) was responsible for setting up the deal to take out Lapid.

However, controversy ensued in the case after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla eventually confirmed that the middleman pointed by Escorial, a certain Cristito Palaña, mysteriously died inside the NBP.  The sudden developments had the Philippine National Police (PNP) and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself raise doubts on whether Palaña’s death was due to natural causes.

READ: Bongbong Marcos doubts ‘middleman’ in Percy Lapid slay died of natural causes 

Earlier, it was announced that the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation have filed murder complaints against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag for allegedly ordering the hit job on Mabasa and Palaña.

Bantag, as BuCor head, had the responsibility of supervising the NBP.

Aside from Bantag, BuCor Deputy Security Officer (DSO) Ricardo Zulueta and other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) will also face raps for the killing of Mabasa and Palaña.

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Murder raps filed vs Bantag, others linked to Percy Lapid slay 

BuCor security officer linked to Percy Lapid slay ‘in hiding,’ says Remulla 

JPV