Percy Lapid's brother wants to make sure no one is behind slay 'masterminds'

Journalist Roy Mabasa, the brother of slain broadcaster Percy Lapid, on Monday said he wants to make sure that there are no more personalities behind the alleged masterminds in the killing.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Mabasa said investigators have already identified two possible masterminds although he did not name them.

“I have to be very, very careful na tanggapin na humihinto diyan ‘yung kaso. Gusto ko pong masigurado na wala na bang nasa likod niyan. Kasi kung talagang wala na eh maliwag naman po sa puso naming tatangapin ‘yan,” Mabasa said.

(I have to be very, very careful in accepting that this is the end of the case. I want to make sure that there are no more people behind this. If this is the end, then we will accept it wholeheartedly.)

“Ang atin pong issue dito ay siguridad po namin hanggang ngayon. Dahil kung ang mga mastermind ay patuloy na gagala-gala, hindi po magiging mapayapa ang aming pamilya,” he added.

(Our issue here is our security. Because if the masterminds continue to walk free, our family will never be at peace.)

BuCor

Mabasa said the masterminds “seem to be” officials of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). He did not elaborate.

“Based on what I have seen sa aming case conference sa NBI and sa DOJ, mukhang mga BuCor officials, eh. Siguro naman there are already some names na lumabas sa ibang mga media platforms but ayaw ko ako mismo mag banggit,” he said.

(Based on what I have seen in our case conference with the NBI and the DOJ, it seems to be BuCor officials. Maybe some names have already come up on some media platforms but I don’t want it to come from me.)

Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman of Lapid, had said that a certain “Bantag” had ordered the killing of Lapid. Though he did not specify who Bantag is, suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag was the director general at that time.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are seeking to file more cases against the people involved on Monday.

3 suspects at large

Mabasa said their family hopes that they are on the right path.

“Naniniwala naman tayo sa kakayahan ni [Justice] Secretary [Crispin] Remulla — at saka ng NBI, PNP — na pamunuan itong investigation na kanilang isinagawa. But nevertheless, tandaan natin na meron pang tatlong nakakawala,” he said.

Mabasa was referring to Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan and a certain Orlando, whom Escorial identified as his accomplices in killing Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa.

Meanwhile, when asked if their family is still receiving threats through calls, Mabasa said there was none but noted mysterious vehicles seen roaming near the house of Lapid's children.

“Nitong mga nakaraang araw merong paikot-ikot na mga sasakyan diyan sa bahay nung mga anak ni Ka Percy [These past few days there were vehicles seen near the house of Ka Percy's children],” he said.

Lapid, a hard-hitting radio commentator, was shot dead while on his way home in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, on October 3. —KBK, GMA Integrated News