The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday, March 18, that one of the suspects in the killing of broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa died of brain hemorrhage, the statement came amid insinuations of foul play behind his death.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the death certificate issued on former Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta indicated that he died of cerebral vascular disease intracranial hemorrhage or bleeding in the brain.

“It was his (Zulueta) brother who took him to the hospital. Even the common law wife of Zulueta was present and said that he complained of chest pain. They took him to the hospital where he died,” said Fajardo.

Zulueta, who was among those charged in connection with the killing of Mabasa, was taken to the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center in Dinalupihan town and declared dead at 11 p.m. on Friday, March 15.

He went into hiding after arrest warrants were issued against him and his co-accused BuCor chief Gerald Bantag for a case of murder in connection with the death of Mabasa in October 2022 and an inmate at the New Bilibid Prisons.

Following the reported death of Zulueta, the family of Mabasa is calling for an independent autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Fajardo, however, said that the decision on the matter lies on the Zulueta family.

“We understand that there were doubts whether it should be subjected to autopsy, we have to respect the decision ng family. They will be the ones to decide on this,” said Fajardo.

“As to the decision whether the cadaver of Zulueta will be subjected to autopsy, the consent of his family is needed. The PNP cannot decide for the family should the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) wish to conduct an autopsy to erase doubt,” she added.

But she said an investigation will be conducted to determine all the people who may have coddled Zulueta when he was in hiding.

“As to the question whether are we planning to file charges of obstruction of justice particularly for harboring a wanted criminal, this will be studied and the PNP is more than willing to help and assist the DOJ with respect to the investigation of this case including if there are people who coddled Zulueta prior to his death,” said Fajardo.

For now, Fajardo said they will yield to the request of the Zulueta to give them time to grieve.

“But they are more than willing to give information, they promised to cooperate,” said Fajardo.