The brazen killing of veteran radio broadcaster and prominent government critic Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid, was denounced by the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
Lapid was shot dead on Monday evening, Oct. 3, near his home in Las Piñas City.
“Matalas siyang kritiko ng mga polisiya ng rehimeng Duterte at mga kasapakat nitong sila Badoy at Bato, hanggang sa bagong rehimeng Marcos Jr. (He is a sharp critic of the policies of the Duterte regime and their accomplices Badoy and Bato, as well as the new Marcos Jr. regime),” said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Following the demise of broadcaster Renato “Rey” Blanco in September 2022, Lapid is the second journalist to be killed under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
“Walang ibang may tangka sa kanyang buhay kundi ang mga nasa kapangyarihan na nais siyang patahimikin dahil sa kanyang pagiging prinsipyado at matapang na kritiko ng gobyerno (Other than those in power, there is no one else in his life who want to silence him because of his principle and courageous criticism of the government),” he claimed.
The brutal killing, according to Labog, has no place in a democracy, adding that someone has to be held accountable for this murder.
The death of Lapid drew the attention of Filipino netizens. They later on referred to the broadcaster’s demise as “evidence of the attack against press freedom.”
As part of its cry for justice, the group will be participating in an indignation rally on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 at 6 p.m.. This will be held at the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon City.