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Killing of Percy Lapid

Coordinates: 14°26′35.4″N 120°59′03.7″E / 14.443167°N 120.984361°E / 14.443167; 120.984361
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Killing of Percy Lapid
LocationLas Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates14°26′35.4″N 120°59′03.7″E / 14.443167°N 120.984361°E / 14.443167; 120.984361
DateOctober 3, 2022
8:30 pm (PHT)
TargetPercy Lapid
Weapons.45 caliber pistol[1]
AccusedSuspected perpetrators onsite:[2]
Joel Estorial
Edmon Dimaculangan
Israel Dimaculangan
"Orly"[a]
Middlemen[2]
Jun Villamor[b]
Christopher Bacoto

On October 3, 2022, Percy Lapid, a radio journalist and radio broadcaster, was shot dead while on his way home in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Percy Lapid

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Carag and the surname or paternal family name is Mabasa.
Percy Lapid
Born
Percival Carag Mabasa

(1959-03-14)March 14, 1959
Manila, Philippines
DiedOctober 3, 2022(2022-10-03) (aged 63)
Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines
Other namesPercy Lapid (gunman)
Ka Percy
Occupation(s)Radio broadcaster, columnist
EmployerDWBL/FBS Radio Network
SpouseMarilou Santiago
Children6

Percival Carag Mabasa (March 14, 1959 – October 3, 2022), known professionally as Percy Lapid, was a Filipino journalist and radio broadcaster.[4] He was a critic of President Bongbong Marcos and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.[5] He hosted the radio program Lapid Fire at DWBL, where he tackled corruption cases.[6] He disclosed irregularities regarding the Sugar Regulatory Administration's aborted Sugar Order No. 4 amidst a sugar crisis. The scandal faced by the Marcos administration led to the resignation of executive secretary Vic Rodriguez in September 2022.[4]

Lapid was vocal against the dangers of red-tagging, a practice where the government attempts to silence journalists and other dissenters by accusing them of being communists.[7][8] He was also outspoken against disinformation and the government drug war.[8]

Aside from DWBL, Lapid was a radio reporter and commentator since the 1980s for DZME, DWBC, DZRM, DWIZ, and DZRJ and a columnist for the tabloid Hataw.

Killing

Further information: Violence against journalists in the Philippines, List of journalists killed in the Philippines, and Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines

Percy Lapid was killed on October 3, 2022, at around 8:30 pm (UTC+8) when he was driving on his way home to BF Resort Village, a gated community in Las Piñas.[4] There was a traffic built up[9] at the gate near Aria Street in Barangay Talon 2 since vehicles passing through are inspected for a sticker required for entry to the subdivision.[10] A motorcycle with two people approached his vehicle,[10] then a gunman fired two shots at Lapid killing him instantly.[4] Lapid's vehicle was about 50 meters (160 ft) from the gate when the incident occurred.[9]

He was the third journalist in the Philippines to be killed in 2022 according to data from UNESCO[11] and the second one during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.[12]

Perpetrators

Two motorcycle-riding men were seen being involved in Lapid's killing.[13] The police identified one "person-of-interest", a man wearing a pink jacket walking near the Las Piñas City Hall, about five minutes away from Lapid's home. According to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos believes that the killer is a professional gunman.[9]

Joel Escorial, the confessed gunman who killed Lapid, surrendered to authorities on October 17, 2022.[14] He implicated brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan as his partners in crime. Escorial says that they received orders from individual who goes by the name "Orlando" or "Orly" who in turn answers to another person detained inside the New Bilibid Prison.[15]

The Bilibid detainee was identified by Lapid is Jun Villamor.[b] Christopher Bacoto, also known as Jerry Sandoval, is alleged to be a middlemen who tasked Escorial, the Dimaculangans, and Orly to kill Lapid.[3]

Investigation

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Commission on Human Rights have opened investigations into the killing.[16] The PNP reviewed CCTV cameras along the known route Lapid took, the dashcam on the victim's vehicle, and his cellphone and interviewed his family as part of the investigation.[9][13][17] The PNP's National Capital Region Police Office say that they have not found any evidence on Lapid's cellphone and his family said that they are not aware of any possible threats to the journalist's life.[9] The police has not determined the motive for the killing.[9]

Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman of Percy Lapid's killing surrendered to authorities on October 17, 2022. He named Jun Villamor[b], as his contact inside the New Bilibid Prison.[3] Villamor would die on October 18. The Bureau of Corrections' initial investigation concludes that Villamor died of natural causes rather than as a result of foul play. The National Bureau of Investigation conducted an autopsy and found no signs of external injury on Villamor's body. This was contradicted by findings of a second autopsy by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun who concluded that Villamor died of suffocation by plastic bag.[18][19]

Reactions

Lapid's killing received condemnation both domestically and internationally and from foreign governments and media organizations.[20][21][22][23][24][25] Media watchdogs and human rights organizations noted how the Philippines is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.[26] According to the Committee to Protect Journalists' Global Impunity Index, 85 journalists have been killed in the Philippines from 1992 to 2021, making the Philippines the seventh worst country in the world in terms of number of journalists murdered and where most of their killers go unpunished.[27]

The killing has been considered an attack on press freedom by some observers, such as former Vice President Leni Robredo and lawmakers Risa Hontiveros, Robin Padilla, France Castro, and Neri Colmenares.[28] The killing has also added to the chilling effect on media, according to media watchdogs and other observers.[23][29][30]

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos offered ₱500 thousand of his own money for anyone who could provide information that could aid the investigations regarding the incident.[5] As of October 10, 2022, the cash bounty stands at ₱6.5 million, with ₱1 million from lawyer, businessman and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas Manila Chapter Chairman Alex Lopez[31][32] and ₱5 million contributed by members of the House of Representatives.[33]

Notes

  1. ^ An individual only identified through an alias
  2. ^ a b c Name varies by source:[3]

References

  1. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (October 6, 2022). "SPD: .45 caliber pistol used to kill Percy Lapid". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "6 persons 'linked' to Percy Lapid killing now in NBI, PNP custody – Remulla". Manila Bulletin. October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Gregorio, Xave. "What we know so far: The 'middlemen' in Percy Lapid's killing". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Popular Philippine radio journalist gunned down in Manila". Reporters Without Borders. October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Cueto, Francis Earl; Maralit, Kristina; Cua, Aric John Sy (October 7, 2022). "P500K reward for arrest of Lapid killers". The Manila Times. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "LAPID FIRE ni Percy Lapid - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Ore, Jonathan (October 6, 2022). "Journalists in the Philippines fear for their safety after popular commentator gunned down". CBC Radio. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Cruz, James Patrick (October 4, 2022). "Who is the slain broadcast journalist Percy Lapid?". Interaksyon. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "'Person of interest' sa pagpaslang kay Percy Lapid, tukoy na" ['Person of interest' regarding the killing of Percy Lapid, identified]. ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (October 6, 2022). "P1.5M bounty on head of radioman's killer". Sunstar. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "Asesinan al popular periodista filipino Percy Lapid, crítico con la clase política del país". Público (in Spanish). October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "'Person of interest' unveiled in Percy Lapid murder case". The Star. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Asia News Network. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Police tracking down person of interest in Percy Lapid's slay". Manila Bulletin. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Suspect in Percy Lapid killing surrenders". CNN Philippines. October 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Pinlac, Beatrice (October 18, 2022). "Percy Lapid slay case: Gunman says 'someone from Bilibid' gave kill order". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "Probes launched into killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid". CNN Philippines. October 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "Cellphone ng pinatay na radio broadcaster na si Percy Lapid, hindi nakitaan ng anumang ebidensya – NCRPO" [Mo evidence seen in cellphone of slain radio broadcaster Percy Lapid – NCRPO]. RMN Networks (in Filipino). RadyoMaN Manila. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "NBI autopsy on alleged middleman in Lapid slay finds no signs of external injuries". The Philippine Star. October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  19. ^ Gregorio, Xave (October 29, 2022). "'Middleman' in Lapid slay died from suffocation by plastic bag, second autopsy reveals". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  20. ^ Cua, Aric John Sy (October 4, 2022). "NUJP condemns broadcast journalist's killing". The Manila Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  21. ^ Gutierrez, Jason; Ives, Mike (October 4, 2022). "Journalist Who Criticized Marcos is Fatally Shot in the Philippines". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Sepe Jr., Fernando G. (October 4, 2022). "Media groups condemn killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid". ABS-CBN News.
  23. ^ a b Pedrajas, Joseph (October 4, 2022). "Foreign gov'ts warn of 'chilling effect' after Percy Lapid's killing". Manila Bulletin.
  24. ^ Fernandez, Daniza (October 4, 2022). "Foreign nations express 'grave concern' over slay of broadcaster Percy Lapid". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  25. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (October 4, 2022). "'Speaking the truth is dangerous' in PH: Percy Lapid killing sparks condemnation". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Rai, Arpan (October 5, 2022). "Global outcry as journalist and fierce critic Percy Lapid shot dead in Philippines". The Independent. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  27. ^ Villanueva, Brooke (October 4, 2022). "'Stop killing journalists': Shock, outrage over murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid". l!fe • The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  28. ^ de Leon, Dwight (October 4, 2022). "'Attack on press freedom': Killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid ignites outcry". Rappler. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  29. ^ "Is Percy Lapid's murder a bellwether for the Philippines?". Al Jazeera. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  30. ^ Fernandez, Daniza (October 24, 2022). "Percy Lapid slay case still stands on thin ice – Drilon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  31. ^ Pinlac, Beatrice (October 7, 2022). "Reward for leads in Percy Lapid killing now P1.5M". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  32. ^ "Atty. Alex Lopez's post re the reward". Facebook (in Tagalog). October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  33. ^ Antonio, Raymund (October 9, 2022). "House offers P5-M reward for the arrest of Percy Lapid's killers". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
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