THE EYES HAVE IT Confessed gunman Joel Escorial arrives
at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in November 202 in this file photo of the first hearing on the Percival Mabasa murder. One of the alleged brains, suspended prisons
chief Gerald Bantag, did not appear on account of a wrong middle name in the summons. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Confessed gunman in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa has asked the Las Piñas City court that he be allowed to plead guilty to a lesser offense of homicide, instead of murder.
Accused Joel Escorial, through Atty. Nikki Garcia of the Public Attorney’s Office, filed the motion for plea bargain before Las Piñas RTC Branch 254 Presiding Judge Harold Huliganga.
“After conferring with accused-movant and informing him of the right to plea bargain, he consented to plead guilty to the lesser offense of homicide,” read Escorial’s motion.
In a tweet, Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa, confirmed Escorial’s motion before Huliganga’s sala.
“Alleged gunman Jose Escorial filed before Las Piñas Judge Harold Huliganga a plea bargain requesting the court to downgrade the murder case to homicide in exchange for his admission. If granted, he faces “reclusion temporal” or up to 20 years in prison,” Mabasa said.
Mabasa was present during Monday’s hearing.
He said Escorial also asked the court that he be allowed to spend his prison term at a Bureau of Corrections facility in Samar due to security concerns at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City where the plan to kill Lapid was allegedly hatched.
“Our lawyers are looking at it very closely. Although there is a question of whether he will qualify or not, we will see how it will go. For us, justice is when the mastermind/masterminds are put behind bars,” Mabasa added.
Escorial is charged with murder after admitting to the killing together with former BuCor chief Gerald Bantag and Bantag’s deputy, Ricardo Zulueta.
He surrendered to the authorities and mentioned other names involved.
Last month, Bilibid inmates Alvin Galicia, Aldrin Galicia, and Alfie Penaredonda were sentenced by the Las Piñas City court from two to eight years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty for acting as accessories in Lapid’s killing.
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