The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should get their acts together in the conduct of investigation to identify the mastermind behind the killing of broadcast journalist Percival Mabasa, national police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
This, after the sister of Crisanto Villamor claimed to have knowledge of the contract to kill Mabasa, more known as Percy Lapid, based on the revelations made by her brother before he died inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) on Oct. 18.
The sister of Villamor is now being secured by the Department of Justice.
"I understand that she (Villamor sister) surrendered the evidence to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) so we really need to put our acts together, between the PNP and the NBI to strengthen the cases against those who have involvement in the killing of Percy Mabasa," said Azurin.
"This is a very good development because at least now, the family of Villamor is coming out in the open to help solve this case," he added.
According to Villamor's sister, her brother told her that there were at least three "commanders" inside the NBP who ordered the hit job on Mabasa.
She said that a few hours before her brother died, he sent a text message giving her a go signal to reveal the information he divulged to her, including the names of the three NBP commanders, if would die.
During that time, Villamor reportedly felt uneasy after self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial surrendered to the police and started spilling beans.
Azurin said the text messages sent to the sister of Villamor are vital in case build-up and in the continuous investigation to identify the mastermind behind Mabasa's killing.
"We will also ask that the cellphone (of Villamor's sister) be turned over to us as part of the evidence so that we could conduct forensic examination and to form part of the evidence that will lead us to the mastermind," said Azurin.
But he said proper coordination will be made especially that the DOJ, through the NBI, is conducting a parallel investigation.