Percival Mabasa (Screengrab from a video posted on the Facebook page of “Lapid Fire.”
MANILA, Philippines — Students in Central Visayas universities commemorated the first death anniversary of veteran broadcaster Percy Lapid last Aug. 26 in a forum, discussing his journey as a media practitioner with a panel of seasoned journalists.
The forum — titled “Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive: The Case Study of Percy Lapid” — was made possible with the support of the Czech Embassy in the Philippines.
At the forum, the participants — students from Silliman University and Negros Oriental State University — asked veteran journalists for advice on “media killings, red-tagging, and other forms of harassment.”
On Oct. 3, 2022, Lapid, whose real name was Percival Mabasa, was shot dead while driving his car near the gate of a Las Piñas City subdivision. Before his death, the veteran broadcaster was known for his hard-hitting criticism of government officials on “Lapid Fire,” a program aired over AM station DWBL.
During the forum, staffers of the universities’ student publications asked for the panel’s advice after experiencing difficulties covering the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and others who were killed in March.
“Just write the truth,” Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa, who is also a journalist, advised.
Ellen Tordesillas, a co-founder of Facebook-accredited fact-checker Vera Files, also underscored the importance of truthfulness.
“Truthfulness is important, whether you’re reporting about a good place to eat up or candidates during elections. Journalists — even campus journalists — should be responsible,” Tordesilla said in Filipino.
On the other hand, Alwyn Alburo, a producer at GMA News and a professor at the University of Santo Tomas, highlighted the role of the media and the significance of the country’s press freedom and democracy.
“We can’t back down on our role just because it is dangerous. We should continue nurturing our hard-earned freedom,” Alburo said.