The director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) advised one of the suspects in the killing of broadcast journalist Percival Mabasa to surrender instead of playing hide and seek with policemen that may eventually end up with him losing his own life.
NCRPO director Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo cited as an example the case of alleged hired killer John Philip Rodriguez who was shot dead when he allegedly tried to shoot it out with operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Friday, Oct. 7, in Barangay Payatas.
Rodriguez, alias Mata, is reportedly known for killing any person who would fail to remit earnings from illegal drug trade.
"I appeal to the gun man of broadcaster Percival Mabasa to peacefully yield to police authorities while his and his family’s safety is guaranteed," said Estomo.
"It is better for him to surrender while there is time. He should not wait for him to suffer the same fate as Rodriguez," he stressed.
Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, was gunned down in Las Piñas City on Monday.
Police investigators got a good lead as to the identification of the suspected gun man when he was seen in a CCTV footage and the dashcam of the vehicle of Mabasa hours before the assassination.
Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos said it is only a matter of time before the gunman is identified as he disclosed that there is already a P1.5 million reward for any informatiomn that could lead to the identification and eventual arrest of the perpetrators.
Abalos and the NCRPO have already made public the photo of the alleged gun man in the Percy Lapid killing.