Percy Lapid's family thanks PNP for suspect's surrender but says further verification needed

The family of slain broadcaster Percy Lapid on Tuesday thanked the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the surrender of one of the suspects but said further verification is needed.

In a message to GMA News Online, Roy Mabasa, Lapid's brother, said they would ask the PNP to allow them to face Joel Estorial, the self-confessed gunman in the killing who yielded to authorities on Monday.

Mabasa said authorities should also allow Estorial to have a "walkthrough" at the scene of the crime.

"Yes. Walkthrough the alleged gunman sa [at the] scene of the crime," Mabasa said when asked about his request to the PNP.

Aside from this, Mabasa said they also want to "match" the suspect in the CCTV footage with Estorial.

"Gusto namin mag-matching ng CCTV video at ng suspect para ma-distinguish kung siya talaga 'yan [We want to match the CCTV video and the suspect so we can distinguish if it's really him]," he said.

The host of the online broadcast program "Percy Lapid Fire" at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for Hataw, Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, was shot dead while on his way home in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, on October 3.

On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos presented Estorial to the media where the suspect identified his three other companions in the killing, namely siblings Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a certain Orlando or Orly.

The three suspects are still at large.

According to Mabasa, Estorial has been under police custody since last week. He said Abalos informed them of his voluntary surrender on October 14.

Mabasa further clarified that they are not judging the PNP in expressing their discontent but are only seeking justice for Lapid’s killing.

“Ito’y di pagahusga sa pulisya, ito’y paghahanap ng katarungan. Iba ‘yung humuhusga ka, iba ‘yung naghahanap ka ng katarungan,” said Mabasa in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are not judging the police but we’re seeking justice. It’s different to judge and ask for justice.)

“‘Yun naman ang gusto nating lahat eh — finally, matuldukan sana ang mga pagpatay na ito. Subalit lahat ng ito ay nakabase dapat sa katotohanan,” he added.

(Because that’s all we want — to finally put an end to these killings. But it should be based on truth.)

Southern Police District director Kirby John Brion Kraft said they would invite the Mabasa family to a walkthrough that was scheduled for later Tuesday.

“Ang gagawin namin mamayang hapon po at the same time kung anong oras po pinatay si Ka Percy ay magsasagawa kami ng walkthrough,” said Kraft in an interview over dzBB’s Super Radyo.

(We'll have a walkthrough with the suspect at the same time Percy was killed.)

“Ininvite po namin si Ka Roy para mag witness siya doon at kung gusto niya kausapin ‘yung nag-surrender wala pong problema,” he added.

(We invited Roy to serve as a witness and talk with the suspect.)

Kraft also said the SPD had conducted a dialogue with journalists last week to check their safety and ask if they were receiving threats.

“Kami po sa SPD, nagpatawag na kami ng dialogue noong nakaraang linggo kung saan ang mga mamamahayag sa larangan ng TV ay nagtungo. Inalam po natin kung sila ba ay may nararamdaman na banta o maaaring threat sa kanilang buhay,” he said.

(We conducted a dialogue with TV journalists last week. We asked if they were receiving threats.)

“So far, lahat naman ng nandoon na um-attend ay wala naman masabi. Pinayuhan namin sila na once magkaroon ng pakiramadam na may banta sa buhay nila, ipagbigay-alam sa pinakamalapit na pulisya,” Kraft added.

(So far, none of the attendees have received death threats. We advised them to contact the police once they felt like they were in danger.)

In a statement, the Mabasa family expressed hope that Estorial's surrender would lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of the mastermind.

"We would like to thank the Philippine National Police for the surrender of the person who claims to be the gunman. We hope this  development leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the mastermind," the family said.

"We hope Percy does not become part of the statistics and continue to clamor for justice for Percy and the nearly 200 journalists killed since 1986," they added. —KBK/VBL, GMA News