Marcos on Percy Lapid slay case: Let probe continue

The authorities "practically" solved the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid in 17 days but President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. said the investigation into the crime should continue.

According to GMA Integrated News' Mariz Umali, Marcos made the remark in an interview with reporters on the presidential flight to Cambodia where he would attend the ASEAN Summit.

Asked if someone more powerful than suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag was behind Lapid's death, Marcos said, "Again, as I said, the investigation is not yet over so we cannot we know everything about the case yet." 

"I don’t want to make these declarations until we know for a fact... So let the investigation continue," Marcos said.

Marcos said the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation had done a good job,

"By the way, I’d like to remind everybody this case... was practically solved in 17 days. Okay. So I think we can say that the investigating bodies have done a good job," Marcos said.

"They’ll keep doing a good job until we come to the actual final, conclusion of this investigation," he added.

‘Terrible’

Asked if it bothered him that Bantag was linked to the crime, Marcos said, “Of course, that’s terrible.”

“He established his own fiefdom there in the prison. ‘Yung galaw niya is with no fear of being punished," Marcos said.

"I think we've gotten most of those who are involved," he added, saying that two or three have gone into hiding, including potential witnesses.

“But we’ll just keep going. Until we’re satisfied. Right now, because we haven’t spoken to all of the named suspects, middlemen, masterminds, the investigation hasn’t been closed,” Marcos said.

The NBI and the PNP have filed murder complaints on Monday against Bantag, BuCor official Ricardo Zulueta, and several others for the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor (Cristito Villamor Palaña), an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The NBI said Bantag and Zulueta were still in the country.

Mabasa has said Bantag was mentioned in Lapid’s online radio program at least three times.

The broadcaster allegedly called out Bantag for having an expensive mansion and cars, which the latter denied.

Confessed gunman Joel Escorial said Bantag got hurt by Lapid's radio commentary on his house and vehicle and ordered the radio broadcaster's killing.

‘They know their jobs’

Asked if he had specific directives for BuCor officer in charge Gregorio Catapang Jr., Marcos said, “They know their jobs.”

“They don’t need for me to tell, to teach their job. But I said, you look into this. I want to know is how did it come to this?” he added.

“In terms of investigating, alam na nila ‘yung gagawin nila. But we have to look bakit and see what happened here..? What went on inside the prison... that this happened? We just have to find out more,” Marcos said.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on the night of October 3 just before he was supposed to go on the air. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA Integrated News