Percy Lapid case solved, but probe still ongoing —police

The police probing the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid said Sunday that the case was already solved considering that suspects were identified and apprehended.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft said that they are, however, continuing the investigation into the fatal shooting of Lapid in Las Piñas City on October 3.

“Actually, nalutas na po natin ito dahil meron na tayong na-identify na mga suspek at meron na rin tayong nasa kustodiya natin, at higit sa lahat, na-file na natin ang kaso. Ito nga lang po, tinutuloy-tuloy pa rin natin ang imbestigasyon nito,” he said.

(Actually, we have already solved this because we have identified suspects, we have them in our custody, and we have filed the case. It's just that, we are still continuing the investigation.)

“Pero as far as we are concerned, ito po ay nalutas na natin itong kaso na ito,” he added.

(But as far as we are concerned, we have already solved this case.)

Kraft said that included in their investigation was the review of Lapid’s radio program from 2021 to 2022.

They also coordinated with the father of the alleged first middleman in the plot to kill Lapid, who died inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) due to a heart hemorrhage.

This middleman, identified as Cristito Villamor Palaña, was named by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial in the contract to kill the broadcaster.

“Sa panahong ito, bilang imbestigador, nakatutok pa rin tayo doon sa sinasabi ng ating gunman. ‘Yun pa rin po ‘yung tinututukan natin para malaman natin kung sino talaga,” Kraft said.

(At this time, as investigators, we are still focused on what our gunman is saying. That's still what we're focusing on so we can identify who were the others involved in the killing.)

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology is currently safeguarding the alleged second middleman identified as Christopher Bacoto.

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

Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman, surrendered to the police on Tuesday. He identified his accomplices as Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan, and a certain Orlando. Escorial said the order to kill Lapid came from inside the NBP. 

A complaint for murder has been filed against Escorial and his three alleged accomplices, police said Wednesday. —KG, GMA News