House Speaker Martin Romualdez has welcomed the capture of the suspected gunman in the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid, even as the official underscored the importance of media members in society.
“We in the House of Representatives welcome this positive development in the unfortunate crime that took the life of Percy Lapid," Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st district representative, said in a statement Tuesday, Oct. 18.
The speaker said the lower chamber applauded the efforts of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, as well as that of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for bringing in the suspect.
"The arrest of a suspect in the shooting of Lapid is indeed a welcome development. We hope that this arrest leads to the apprehension of the other suspects in the gruesome murder of Lapid and the resolution of the case," Romualdez added.
“The protection of members of the Fourth Estate is of paramount importance as they play a vital role in nation-building,” stressed the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president.
Lapid was ambushed and killed last October 3 in Las Piñas City.
The self-confessed gunman--Joel Estorial--was presented by Abalos and the PNP in a press conference earlier Tuesday.
The House of Representatives earlier raised P5 million as reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime. This came from the personal money of the congressmen.