Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. announced this Monday that the murder case against broadcaster Percy Lapid has not yet been resolved.
This is contrary to what Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft said, that the case has been resolved, but the investigation is ongoing.
In the press briefing, Azurin said that the case cannot be considered solved because the investigators do not yet know where the order to kill Lapid came from.
“Hindi pa natin masasabi na solved na, although, we have filed the cases already initially against kay Mr. (Joel) Escorial and ‘yung mga kasamahan niya,” the official said.
“Because we have yet to determine nga saan nanggaling, kung totoong may mastermind, saan ba nanggaling ‘yung utos,” he added.
Azurin’s statement is contrary to what Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft said earlier, that the case had been solved because a suspect has been caught, but the investigation is still ongoing.
PNP Chief Azurin says Percy Lapid slay case not yet closed
The SPD is in charge of Las Piñas City, where Lapid was assassinated on October 3.
According to Azurin, the authorities need to know if others are involved in Lapid’s murder and if the suspected mastermind in the crime just contacted the alleged “middlemen” who died in New Bilibid Prison.
A few days after Lapid was killed, the self-confessed gunman Escorial surrendered on October 18. This was the same day that the middleman he pointed to who was incarcerated, later identified as Cristito Villamor, allegedly died.
Aside from Villamor, Escorial also named his accomplices in Lapid’s murder as Christopher Bacoto, who is said to be another middleman in jail.
Brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and an Orlando or Orly are still wanted.
It will be remembered that Percy 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.
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