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MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the investigation into the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa should continue even though authorities “practically” solved the crime in 17 days.
He made the remark after he was asked if he thinks someone more powerful than suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, who has been charged for the murder, is behind Lapid’s death.
“The investigation is not yet over so we cannot we know everything about the case yet. I don’t want to make these declarations until we know for a fact. So let the investigation continue,” he told reporters in an interview.
However, he said authorities has so far done a “good job” since the cased was practically solved in just a little over two weeks.
“This case was practically solved in 17 days. So I think we can say that the investigating bodies have done a good job. They’ll keep doing a good job until we come to the actual final, conclusion of this investigation,” the President said.
Marcos admitted that he was bothered that the suspended BuCor chief was linked to the crime, saying it is “terrible.”
“Of course, that’s terrible. I guess he established his own fiefdom there in the prison. Yung galaw niya is with no fear of being punished,” he said when asked if it bothers him that Bantag was linked to Lapid’s killing.
Marcos said he believes the authorities have already apprehended “most” of those allegedly involved in Lapid’s death, saying that two or three have gone into hiding, including potential witnesses.
“But we’ll just keep going. Until we’re satisfied. Right now, because we haven’t spoken to all of the named suspects, middlemen, masterminds — the investigation hasn’t been closed,” he said.
The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police have filed murder charges against Bantag, BuCor official Ricardo Zulueta, and several others for the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor (Cristito Villamor Palaña), an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
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