Gunman in Percy Lapid slay files plea bargain motion to downgrade murder raps

Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman of broadcaster Percy Lapid, has asked a Las Piñas court to allow him to downgrade his murder charge to homicide.

“In the interest of justice and for the mutual benefit of the State and the accused, it is most respectfully prayed to this Honorable Court to allow accused Joel Escorial y Salve to enter into plea bargaining to lesser offense of homicide,” the one-page motion read.

The motion was filed with the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court 254.

In March, prosecutors indicted suspended BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta for two counts of murder for the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.

They also found probable cause to indict Escorial, Israel Dimaculangan, Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain Orlando for murder as principals by direct participation.

“After conferring with accused-movant [Escorial] and informing him of the right to plea-bargain, he consented to plead guilty to the lesser offense of Murder under the RPC,” the motion read.

“The instant motion is not intended to delay the proceedings but solely for the reasons above-cited to serve the best interest for justice,” it later added.

This was confirmed by the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors when sought for confirmation on the matter.

Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa, also announced the development in a tweet.

Mabasa said that if granted, Escorial faces reclusion temporal or up to 20 years in prison.

According to Mabasa, their lawyers are looking into the matter “very closely.”

“Although there is a question of whether he will qualify or not, we will see how it will go. For us, justice is when the mastermind/s are put behind bars,” Mabasa said in a statement.

Escorial surrendered to authorities days after Lapid was gunned down in Las Pinas City on October 3, 2022 out of fear for his safety.

He identified the Dimaculangan brothers and Orlando as his accomplices.

Villamor, meanwhile, died at the New Bilibid Prison on October 18. An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

At present, Bantag and Zulueta remain at large. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News