The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday, Oct. 7, made a major breakthrough in the investigation on the killing of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, or more popularly known as Percy Lapid.
Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, NCRPO regional director, said the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Percy Lapid” confirmed to have developed a person of interest in the case after checking all the available CCTV footages along the victim’s routes before the killing and the identified routes that the suspects have taken.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DOLG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. showed a photo of the person of interest — a man — in a press briefing but his face was covered by face mask.
Col. Restituto Arcangel, commander of SITG Percy Lapid, said the outfit of the person of interest matched that of the backrider of a motorcycle rider who was caught in a dashcam footage driving behind Mabasa's vehicle moments he was shot.
"Makikita niyo 'yung t-shirt niya, 'yung marking ng t-shirt nagmatch 'yan doon sa naka-angkas na nakuha ng dashcam sa likod ng sasakyan ng biktima a second before binaril 'yung biktima (You can see his t-shirt, the marking of the t-shirt matched to the backrider who was seen in a dashcam video behind the vehicle of the victim a second before the victim was shot)," Arcangel said.
He said the forensic investigation by the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNO-ACG) on the cellphone of Mabasa yielded "no useful information to the case."
Arcangel added that the victim did not inform his fanily whether or not he had received threats on his life.
"Ang ugali nitong si Percival Mabasa ay hindi siya nagsasabi sa pamilya kung ano man ang problema niya sa trabaho. So hindi niya dinadala sa bahay 'yun (Percival Mabasa didn't tell his family if he has problems on his work. So he didn't bring his issues at home)," Arcangel revealed.
Estomo said that a P1.5 million-reward was raised by Mabasa’s family and friends, as well as Abalos to help fast track the identification of the person of interest as well as the determination of his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the NCRPO chief said he has directed all district directors and chiefs of police in Metro Manila to initiate a dialogue with journalists, broadcasters, and media practitioners to determine imminent threats and address any security concern involving them.
“We acknowledge the risks involved in the job of our media friends, hence, we are duty bound to protect them,” Estomo said.
He also ordered a strict inspection of motorcycle without plate numbers to include motor vehicles during the conduct of checkpoints and “Oplan Sita.”
Mabasa was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspect while he was on his way home in Las Pinas City on October 3.
The police have yet to determine the motive behind the killing of the journalist.