The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to start at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, its preliminary investigation on the murder complaint filed against the self-confessed killer and three of his alleged accomplices in the killing last Oct. 3 of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid.
Aside from self-confessed killer Joel S. Escorial, also included in the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) were brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and a third person identified only as “Orly” or “Orlando.”
The Dimaculangan brothers and “Orly” or “Orlando” have not been not arrested and their whereabout still unknown. Escorial surrendered to the PNP for fear of his life.
It was not known immediately if the two other persons identified by Escorial have been included in the complaint filed by the PNP.
In his affidavit, Escorial named a certain Crisanto Palana Villamor, alias “Idoy” as the person who contracted him to kill Lapid for P550,000 reward. Escorial alleged that Crisanto Palana Villamor is from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Also, the DOJ said that Escorial revealed that his three co-respondents were instructed to join him “because a certain Christopher Bacoto (Yoyoy), also known as ‘Jerry Sandoval,’ talked to his companions to help him in killing Percy Lapid.”
Earlier, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said there were two persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with the surname of Villamor detained at the NBP in Muntinlupa City before and on the day Percy Lapid was killed.
BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel Chaclag identified them as Jun Globa Villamor and Jose Palana Villamor.
Jun died at the NBP hospital last Oct. 18 while Jose was transferred to the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Oct. 20, Chaclag said.
He said the two Villamors are counsins.
The preliminary investigation of the murder complaint was pleaded by Escorial who waived his right under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended.
Article 125 states that penalties will be imposed “upon the public officer or employee who shall detain any person for some legal ground and shall fail to deliver such person to the proper judicial authorities within the period of twelve (12) hours, for crimes or offenses punishable by light penalties, or their equivalent; eighteen (18) hours, for crimes or offenses punishable by correctional penalties, or their equivalent and thirty-six (36) hours, for crimes, or offenses punishable by afflictive or capital penalties, or their equivalent.”
With his waiver, Escorial can be continuously detained by the PNP while the preliminary investigation is being conducted.
The DOJ said that Escorial, in the presence of his private counsel, “voluntarily re-affirmed his affidavit (Extra Judicial Confession), admitting among others, the killing of Percy Lapid” during inquest proceedings last Oct. 18.
“He (Escorial) acknowledged that on 03 October 2022, at around 8:30 P.M., in Aria Street, Sta. Cecilia Village, Barangay Talon Dos, Las Pinas City, he shot Percy Lapid three (3) times using a caliber .45 pistol, and that he was accompanied by Israel Adao Dimaculangan, Edmon Adao Dimaculangan and a certain alias Orly/Orlando,” the DOJ said.
“They planned and executed the same upon the inducement or order of a certain Crisanto Palana Villamor, also known as ‘Idoy,’ who promised to pay them P550,000,” it added.
The DOJ said Escorial also revealed that his three co-respondents were instructed to join him “because a certain Christopher Bacoto (Yoyoy), also known as ‘Jerry Sandoval’, talked to his companions to help him in killing Percy Lapid.”
Since Christopher Bacoto and Crisanto Palana Villamor were not included in the complaint, the DOJ said “the investigators of Las PInas City Police Station and the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and detection Group), Philippine National Police (PNP), were directed to conduct further investigation of the personalities named in the affidavit of Escorial to determine their whereabouts and participation, whether directly or indirectly, and include them all in the complaint as respondents or charge them accordingly.”
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