ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro wants law enforcement agencies to be more proactive in investigating the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa as well the alleged cases of harassment against media practitioners in the country.
"Let the judicial process run its course as murder raps were filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and others in relation the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, but we must also be vigilant that he may not just be a fall guy and all those involved should be held to account," Castro said on Monday, Nov. 7.
Bantag and BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta were charged as “principals by inducement” in relation to the ambush-slay Lapid on Nov. 7.
"The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should also be more proactive in investigating other cases of media harassment and killings because up till now, the victims and their kin have yet to attain justice," Castro continued.
The teacher-solon also sought a reform to the country’s penal system, describing it as “counter” to reform and rehabilitation. She further cited the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) non-compliance with standards set by the United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
“The current jail system runs counter to being reformative and rehabilitative to offenders. In reality it further mires many offenders into a life of crime as what happened to the alleged middleman in the Percy Lapid killing, Jun Villamor, also known as Cristito Villamor Palaña, at the New Bilibid Prison," she explained.
During an NBP raid last Oct. 28, numerous articles of contraband were found such as improvised deadly weapons, cellphones, two-way radios, and even thousands of cans of beer that were being sold to inmates for P1,000 each.
"Aside from this, the situation in Bilibid undoubtedly falls short of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which prescribe standards is aspects including food, hygiene, and shelter. These cases are enough to merit an investigation and seek accountability on both past and present administrations of BuCor," concluded the lady solon.