Alleged accomplice of gunman in Percy Lapid slay dies during serving of warrant

A man alleged to be the accomplice of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid died during the serving of an arrest warrant in Lipa City, Batangas before dawn on Sunday.

Identified initially by police as alias Orly, the man was said to be the person Escorial talked with about planning and executing the hit on Lapid.

During the police raid, operatives fired shots at alias Orly, who locked himself in a room he was renting with his family.

Alias Orly then proceeded to the bathroom where he shot himself.

Police later identified alias Orly as Jake Mendoza, 40 years old.

Mendoza was previously arrested in November 2020 and served time in jail due to charges related to illegal drugs.

Police Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, said the police created a manhunt operation six months ago after they gathered reliable information. 

“Nung sine-serve natin ang warrant of arrest, dahil alam nating armed and dangerous siya (Mendoza), we employed 'yung SWAT ng CALABARZON. Hindi siya sumuko,” Nartatez said in a Super Radyo DzBB interview.

“In fact, hinostage niya ang kanyang live-in partner at kanyang anak,” he added.

(When we were serving the warrant of arrest, because we knew he was armed and dangerous, we employed the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team of CALABARZON. He did not surrender, In fact, he held his live-in partner and kids as hostages.)

Nartatez also said Mendoza’s testimony would have been helpful in the progress of the case.

In John Consulta’s “24 Oras Weekend” report, Nartatez said the police opted to hold their fire since Mendoza’s family was inside the room.

“Nagkaroon muna ng negotiation dahil nakita natin andun yung mag-ina niya sa loob. Nang lumiwanag, hiniling ni alias Orly na makausap ang isang barangay official at kaanak nito na taga- Laguna, na pinagbigyan ng mga pulis,” Nartatez said.

(There was a negotiation since his family was inside. When morning came, alias Orly requested to speak to a barangay official and a relative in Laguna, which the police granted.)

According to the NCRPO, it took three months before Mendoza was located.

The manhunt operation also intends to arrest the Dimaculangan brothers who were spotted with Mendoza before in Batangas.

“Meron pang dalawa, yung Dimaculangan brothers, as well as yung iba pang charged in this case yung kay General Bantag. Kung sumuko lang siya nang maayos, mabibigyan natin ng mas malinaw, kasi he will be telling kung mag-cooperate siya,” Nartatez said.

(We are still looking for two others, the Dimaculangan brothers, as well as the others charged in this case with suspended Bureau of Corrections  Director General Gerald Bantag. If he surrenders, it will shed more light on the case, that he cooperates by talking to us.)

Lapid was shot dead by two suspects onboard a motorcycle in October 2022 in Las Piñas City.

A Las Piñas court sentenced Escorial in May 2024 to up to 16 years of imprisonment for the crime. —With a report from Mariel Celine Serquiña, John Consulta/KG/RF, GMA Integrated News