Aklan media group asks for deeper probe on Percy Lapid’s murder

In what appeared to be a shocking development on the killing of broadcast journalist Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, the newly-organized Aklan Media Integrated Alliance (AMIA) urged the Department of Justice for a deeper investigation to bring the perpetrators and mastermind to justice.

In a letter sent to DOJ Secretary Crispin C. Remulla, AMIA said it is alarmed that the recent attack on journalist Percy Lapid could become “another case that faces a blank wall or be included in the long list of unsolved crimes involving journalists in the country.”

Lapid was shot dead on the evening of Oct 3, 2022 while onboard his car on his way home to BF Resort Village in Las Piñas.

The latest killing involving a Filipino journalist received condemnation both domestically and internationally and from foreign governments, human rights organizations, media organizations, and watchdogs.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, 85 journalists have already been killed in the country 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.

AMIA is concerned with the death of the middleman who allegedly arranged Percy Lapid’s murder between the mastermind and the gunmen.

“We are terrified by the recent development wherein the only person who served as ‘middleman’ in the devious transaction that led to the death of our colleague has been declared dead under mysterious cause right inside the National Bilibid Prison where he was in detention,” the group said.

“It is imperative therefore that authorities under your stewardship must use its considerable force and influence to get to the bottom of this case and seek ways to identify the person or persons behind the killing of Percy Lapid. This matter, indeed, has to be a subject of a much fuller investigation to unmask the mastermind behind this gruesome murder.”

Although born in Manila, AMIA said that Lapid, Percival Carag Mabasa in real life, has deep roots in Aklan “so in a sense he is one of our own who earned acclaim as a hard-hitting broadcaster known all over the country. His remarkable footprint as a critic whose voice inspired many people to stand up for what is right even at the cost of his life, making him a giant of his craft and the causes he was fighting for.”

“The media has been at the forefront of all our epochal struggles. Even at a hostile climate, many journalists of this nation have taken and are taking into the frontlines at great risk to their personal well-being and safety to advocate for truth, fairness, justice, and democracy. And many, among them, are paying the price including the ultimate price of death just like what happened to our colleague, Percy Lapid,” the group added.

Challenging the Secretary to “Please make us believe there is justice in this country” noting that, “may we not forget that we have a democracy today, which we owe largely because of the sacrifices of the media, especially those that have departed. These are sacrifices that should never be forgotten. And these are the sacrifices that should force the authorities to deepen its investigation and motivate them further to leave no stone unturned until all the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The letter was signed by Jonathan Cabrera (Todo Media), Noel Cabobos (Boracay Informer), Boy Ryan Zabal (Aklan News Forum), Joemer Soriano (Brigada News FM), John Chester Redecio (dyIN Bombo Radyo-Kalibo), Ernie Sambuang (RMN-dyKR), Philip Alfaro (Radyo Todo), Jun Ariolo Aguirre (GMA-Aklan/Rappler), Che Indelible (Energy FM), Jodel Rentillo (Radyo Todo), Edwin Ramos (Radyo Bandera Kalibo), and Ronel Irodestan (Radyo Natin Kalibo).

AMIA furnished copies of the letter to the office of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., Chief PNP Director General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., NBI Director Medardo G. De Lemos, CIDG Director Police General Ronald O. Lee, and to fellow journalist, Roy Mabasa, brother of Lapid who is representing the Mabasa family.

“Please help us keep this issue afloat and alive. We don’t want this to become a mere statistic. Again, please accept my heartfelt thanks sa inyo diyan sa Aklan which I consider as my natural home,” Roy Mabasa told AMIA in a message shortly after receiving the copy of AMIA’s position on Lapid’s case.