Body of alleged middleman in Percy Lapid slay brought to Leyte; kin asks for justice

The body of the alleged middleman in the supposed plot to kill broadcaster Percy Lapid has been brought to his hometown in Javier, Leyte over the weekend.

Police were deployed to the house of alleged middleman Cristito Villamor Palaña (earlier identified as Jun Villamor) to provide security, GMA News' Unang Balita reported on Monday based on a report by GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.

Palaña's father appealed for justice to be served regarding his son's death.

Cristito, an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) was named by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial as one of two alleged middlemen in the slay plot.

Hours after his name was given to authorities, Cristito died inside the NBP.

An autopsy done by the NBI showed that Cristito suffered a hemorrhage in the heart.

However, a subsequent autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun revealed that the remains had a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.” Fortun also said Villamor's body was found to have “pulmonary congestion, edema, and hemorrhages.”

Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa and was host of an online broadcast program and columnist for a tabloid, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3.

On October 18, Escorial was presented to the media following his surrender.

He identified several persons involved in the plot to kill Lapid including two middlemen, identified as Cristito and Christopher Bacoto, who is detained at a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The NBI and the Philippine National Police will file a complaint on Monday against the individuals possibly involved in the crime, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said. —KG, GMA Integrated News