Percy Lapid's family wants independent autopsy done on alleged middleman named by gunman

The family of slain broadcaster Percy Lapid (real name: Percival Mabasa) wants an independent autopsy done on the body of the alleged middleman named by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial.

"Kami po'y nananawagan sa kung sino ang puwedeng tumulong sa amin na magkaroon ng independent autopsy sa labi ni Villamor," Roy Mabasa, brother of Lapid, said in an interview on Saturday morning on Dobol B TV.

(We are appealing for help from anyone who can assist in having an independent autopsy done on the remains of Villamor.)

Mabasa was referring to Crisanto Villamor Jr. identified by Escorial as the alleged "middleman" in the killing of Lapid. Villamor is the same person as the Jun Villamor who died inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

He said Lapid's family is in deep anguish after learning that Villamor died hours after Escorial named him as the alleged middleman in the contract to kill the broadcaster.

"Ang naging sobrang sama ng loob namin ng pamilya ay noong nabalitaan namin na namatay 'yung middleman number 1. 'Yan po si Villamor sa Bureau of Corrections. Siyempre sumama ang loob namin. Nalungkot kami dahil importante po para sa amin 'yan dahil sa aming pagkakaalam, 'yan 'yung nagturo, nagsabi doon sa gunman na patayin 'yang si Percy Lapid," Mabasa said.

(What caused more anguish for the family is when we heard that middleman number 1 died. That was Villamor at the Bureau of Corrections. Of course we were hurt. We got sad because he is important to us. To our knowledge, he was the one who told the gunman to kill Percy Lapid.)

"Makakatulong po 'yan na mapayapa ang aming kalooban," he added, referring to the independent autopsy.

(That would help in giving us peace.)

Mabasa however said he did not want to raise any doubt in the ongoing investigation.

"Wala, wala, ayoko munang mag-raise ng mga pagdududa. Gusto po natin sundin ang sistema na umiiral sa ating bansa at irespeto naman yung ginagawa ng ating pulis sa pinagpapaguran nilang imbestigasyon at paghahanap dito sa salarin," he said.

(I don't want to raise any doubt [regarding the investigation]. We want to follow the system in place in our country and respect what the police are doing in terms of their investigation and search for the suspects.)

Villamor died at the NBP where he was detained as an inmate, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.

“Nakita namin, totoo nga na namatay. May namatay na tao. So immediately it’s really the NBI and the autopsy that’s very important,” Remulla told reporters.

(We saw that there was someone who died. So immediately, it’s really the NBI and the autopsy that’s very important.)

Remulla said Villamor was pronounced dead at the NBP Prison Hospital.

The Justice secretary also said on Thursday that authorities would open the autopsy to medico-legal experts.

“If you can have an independent witness like Dr. Raquel Fortun to look at the autopsy itself, so much the better. So we will open it to other medico-legal experts to find out,” Remulla said.

Initial findings however showed no signs of physical external injuries on the body of Villamor, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Friday.

According to the consolidated initial report on the death of Villamor released by the NBI to the media, the body of the alleged middleman in the plot to kill Lapid was found to have suffered a hemorrhage in the heart.

Lapid was shot dead while he was on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.

He was the host of online broadcast program "Percy Lapid Fire" at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for Hataw

Escorial, the alleged gunman, surrendered to the police on Tuesday. He identified his accomplices as Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan, and Orlando.

The Philippine National Police has filed murder complaints against Escorial and the others.

Mabasa said the family is hoping that authorities have identified the correct suspects.

"Ang aming panalangin lang siyempre ay sana tama itong ating mga sinasakdal. Baka mamaya kung magkamali tayo ng isasakdal sa simula pa lamang ay sa huli niyan ay mali na lahat yan. Kaya't wala naman po kaming choice kundi maniwala sa sistemang aming nakikita," he said.

(We are praying of course that these suspects are the right ones. We might file charges against the wrong suspects. If that's the case, in the end, this will nullify the investigation. We have no choice but trust the system.)

Mabasa also said they are hoping that Escorial would allow that his bank account be opened for investigation by authorities so they could identify who deposited the money for the contract killing.

He said the gunman told them the payment was made in tranches, with the first deposit made on September 15.

"In tranches po 'yan, hiwa-hiwalay. Una ay nagpaunang bayad noong September 15, kaya sila ay officially nagsimula pa lang ng kanilang surveillance, September 15," Mabasa said.

(The payment was done in separate tranches. The first one was on September 15, that is why they were only able to officially start their surveillance on September 15.)

Mabasa also said the gunman mentioned the name of a second middleman, and that he did not know the motive for killing the broadcaster.

"Wala eh. Sa aking pagkakatanda ang sinabi lang niya, siya ay nautusang patayin lang siya. Tinanong ko kung kilala niya si Ka Percy. Ang sagot naman niya ay negative," he said.

(He did not mention any motive. If I remember right, he only said he was ordered to kill him. I asked if he knew Ka Percy. He answered negative.)

Mabasa also said the family is grateful that President Ferdinand Marcos suspended BuCor chief Director General Gerald Bantag  following the death of Villamor.

"Kung tutuusin tayo'y napasigaw, ito'y isang pagbibiro lamang, napa-hallelujah tayo noong umaksyon si Pangulong Marcos at nagsalita. Tayo'y nagpapasalamat din dahil at least kahit papaano ay nagsalita. Inaantay natin siyang magsalita sa loob ng 18 araw. Wala man lang siyang sinasabi tungkol dito sa kaso na ito," he said.

(We shouted hallelujah when President Marcos said something. We are grateful because at least he said something. We were waiting for him to comment about it in 18 days. He did not say anything then.)

"Ito naman ay usaping hindi lamang dito sa atin. Usapin na ito sa buong mundo pagkat marami na ang nakikialam dito. Marami na ang nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang pagkabahala sa pagkamatay ni Ka Percy," he added.

(This does not just concern us. It is being discussed outside the country. Many have already expressed their concern about the killing of Ka Percy.) —KG, GMA News