The alleged gunman who killed broadcaster Percy Lapid has surrendered to the authorities, according to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos this Tuesday.
“Ngayong umagang ‘to, gusto ko lang ikumpirma na nasa kustodiya na ng PNP (Philippine National Police) itong suspek na ang pangalan ay Joel Estorial. Siya ay of course taga-Quezon City,” said Abalos in a press conference.
According to Abalos, the reason for the surrender of Estorial, a resident of Quezon City, was fear for his safety.
“Ang initial report ay siya ay sumurrender out of fear for personal safety dahil natakot siya sa kanyang safety niya dahil pagkatapos ilabas sa publiko ang kanyang mukha,” said Abalos.
It will be remembered that Lapid, or Percival Mabasa in real life, was shot on the night of October 3 while returning home to his house in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City.
Lapid is the host of the online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” on DWBL 1242 and a columnist for the newspaper Hataw.
Before Estorial surrendered, a reward of P6.5 million was offered to anyone who could point to the suspects in Lapid’s murder.
Estorial, presented at the briefing, identified his accomplices as Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and another named Orlando or Orly. Estorial said he did not know Orlando’s last name.
Alleged gunman in killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid surrenders
The Dimaculangan brothers, who are from Las Piñas City, and Orlando are still being hunted. Abalos showed the photo of the three.
According to Estoral, the order to kill Percy Lapid came from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), and someone contracted them from the prison to carry it out.
Estorial said he shot Lapid.
Abalos said that Estorial had already given an extrajudicial confession and refuted the possible speculations that the suspect was just a cover-up.
According to Abalos, the ballistic examination matched Estorial’s gun and a bullet found at the crime scene.
In addition, the gunman’s clothes, which he was seen wearing in the CCTV footage, were also recovered, although they had been cut to pieces.
Estorial apologized to Lapid’s family and said he did not intend to kill the journalist.
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