Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. commended on Monday, June 26, the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its valuable assistance that led to conviction of three middlemen in the Percy Lapid murder case.
On Friday, June 23, Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra and Alfie Peñaredonda of leaders of the Sputnik, Batang City Jail and Happy Go Lucky gangs respectively in the New Bilibid Prison, entered the guilty plea as accessories to the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as ‘Percy Lapid’ before the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court.
“From the beginning, the police exerted herculean efforts to solve this case, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ),’’ Abalos said.
“From unearthing the CCTV video that led to the identification of the gunman Joel Escorial, to the unrelenting pressure that resulted in the gunman's surrender, and the investigative efforts that helped expose the vast criminal network involved, the PNP has performed above and beyond the call of duty,’’ he added.
Lapid was gunned down outside the Las Piñas subdivision where he resides on Oct. 3, 2022.
On Oct. 17,2022, self-confessed killer, Joel Escorial, surrendered to authorities and named Bilibid inmate Jun Villamor as his recruiter.
The following day, Villamor was killed inside his cell, allegedly to silence him, according to the DILG statement.
Subsequently, the DOJ charged former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy Ricardo Zulueta as principals in the murders of Lapid and Villamor.
The two are currently at large and facing a government manhunt.
Abalos also thanked DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and the NBI for the surrender of the three suspects.
“Our agencies' joint efforts enabled us to crack this case quickly. This is a sterling example of the effectiveness of our whole-of-government approach,’’ Abalos stated. (Chito A. Chavez)
He added, "We take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathies for the Mabasa family. We assure them that there will be no let up until we bring the masterminds to justice."