‘Confessed’ gunman sued; other ‘players’ to surrender – Abalos

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has ordered a continuing all-out effort to account for the remaining suspects in the murder of radio block-timer Percy Lapid in Las Piñas City last October 3.

The target of the manhunt operations is the three men identified by “confessed” gunman Joel Salve Estorial as his cohorts in the slaying case.

Police are also coordinating their investigation with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on allegations by Estorial that Bilibid “insiders” or inmates are involved in the successful murder plot.

Azurin congratulated the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo for scoring a major breakthrough in the investigation into the Lapid case with the surrender of Estorial.

The confessed killer yielded to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headed by Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee before being turned over to the NCRPO’s Special Investigation Task Group Lapid.

“I extend my commendation to the leadership of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), most especially to the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) – ‘Percy Lapid’ for sustaining aggressive police operations and for the skillful police science to reconstruct the crime scene, gather evidence and build-up an airtight case against the perpetrators of this gruesome crime, and by establishing all elements of the crime to guarantee successful prosecution,” said Azurin.

“Any attack on media workers is not only an affront to press freedom and free expression but also robs the Filipino people of a democratic system that fosters reformed participatory processes free from violence, threat, and intimidation,” he added.

Azurin said that as “advocates of transparency, accountability, and the public right to information, we need to act in unison as we move forward with vigor and resilience to better address this challenge and help boost the government’s campaign against political viciousness and in expediting the resolution of cases of violence against journalists.”

The top cop said that sooner or later, the proverbial long arm of the law will catch up with the three other suspects, identified as brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan and one alias “Orly” who were all identified by Estorial in front of the press.

He said that police tracker teams are on the trail of the suspects.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. said that Estorial succumbed to the pressure of police manhunt operations, prompting him to surrender.

“This significant development in the case is the product of good police work, careful backtracking and scientific investigation that uncovered leads to build-up an airtight case,” he said.

Abalos presented the confessed gunman to the media and showed computer-generated images of the Dimaculangan brothers, whom Estorial mentioned in his confession.

The suspect said that “Orly” allegedly gave instructions to the three gunmen during the planning of Mabasa’s ambush.

In front of national television, Estorial told Abalos that “Orly” instructed them that whoever is closest to Percy will be the shooter. He also recounted Orly’s alleged instructions, “kung hindi mo babarilin, ikaw ang babarilin.”

The gunman told Abalos that he surrendered because he was bothered by his conscience and that he feared for his life. Abalos begged off further media requests to interview Estorial, citing possible risks in premature disclosure of operational information.

Azurin said Estorial will remain under the custody of SITG Lapid under tight round-the-clock security to ensure his protection.

The PNP chief also mentioned that the surrender of Estorial is a major breakthrough in the controversial death of Lapid and is expected to bring closure to the sensational case.

The gun recovered from the suspect’s possession matched the casings recovered at the crime scene during a ballistics cross-matching.

Journal Group sources said that the suspect surrendered to the PNP-CIDG on Monday. In turn, the CIDG turned over the confessed gunman to the SITG Lapid.

Abalos said that the P6.5 million bounty offered to capture the suspects in the Lapid killing will remain untouched since the suspect surrendered.

Lawyer Alexander Lopez first offered a P1 million reward for any tipster that would lead the police to the killers. Abalos likewise said he will also give a P500,000 reward out of his own pocket to the informant.

Last week, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin T. Romualdez said they will offer a P5 million reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the killers.

‘Gunman formally charged’

Formal charges have been filed against the self-confessed gunman in the October 3 killing of veteran broadcaster Percival Mabasa, popularly known as “Percy Lapid,” before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Sued for murder was Escorial, who is now in police custody. On the other hand, three other individuals who are at large, are facing the same suit, namely: Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and a certain “Orly”.

This developed as veteran journalist Roy Mabasa, brother of the slain broadcaster, on Wednesday affirmed the complaint filed against the suspects at the DOJ.

“Ito po ay inaasahan natin na gugulong agad matapos itong ating ginawa at tayo ay patuloy pa din makikipag-ugnayan sa lahat ng awtoridad na involved dito sa investigation sa pagkamatay ng aking kapatid,” Roy Mabasa said.

The surrendered gunman claimed that the “order” to assassinate Lapid allegedly came inside the walls of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

According to him, they were six of them to do the hit and were paid a total of P550,000.

A DWBL radio commentator, Lapid, was gunned down at the gate of BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, while on his way home.

Lapid was aboard a black Toyota Innova when he was attacked.

He was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Lapid hosted a radio commentary show called “Lapid Fire,” criticizing fake news, red-tagging, and government corruption.

Meanwhile, the DILG chief called on the gunman’s accomplices who carried the plot to kill the veteran broadcaster – to give up since their lives may also be in great danger with the surrender of the main “player” in the kill-for-a-fee job.

Abalos, on Tuesday, presented to the media the gunman who admitted he was the one who shot Lapid in Las Piñas last October 3.

He revealed that the “kill-Percy” work was worth P550,000 to which he got a P140,000 share.

The suspect said he was with three others during the attack on the journalist.

“Kung kanino matapat si Percy, s’ya ang babaril,” the suspect said to which it was he who had the clear view of the target mediaman.

In an interview on the sidelines of the distribution of 35 firetrucks at the grounds of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Abalos said that calling for the other suspects to give up peacefully was the same strategy he used in “convincing” Estorial to surrender.

“Do you remember when I offered P500,000, tapos sinabi ko noon, sumuko ka na kase, marami na nakakakilala ng mukha mo, at baka dumelikado na buhay mo, …sa nanay mo, kapatid mo sabihan nyo sya na sumuko na sya baka kung ano pa magawa sa yo ng mga kasama mo, …kaya sabi nya kinakabahan na sya for his safety,” the DILG chief said.

From the half, a million pesos being offered by Abalos, the bounty for Percy’s killer or killers was raised to P6.5 million.

“In just 15 days, we have already achieved a major breakthrough in the Percy Lapid case. Salamat sa PNP sa pagtutok sa kasong ito at sa mabilis na imbestigasyon kaya napuwersa ang main suspect na sumuko,” Abalos said.

On apprehensions that the self-proclaimed gunman was a “fall guy,” Abalos assured that a lawyer assisted the suspect during his surrender to the police.

“And even without that, there is the connection, the forensic evidence, ito yong (mga) baril, balang hawak, (mga) t-shirt, talagang sya eh, yong (mga) video, baka sabihin ng iba na fall guy ito, …ito ay back-upped not only by admission, (but) by a lawyer and most importantly by forensics, …at ang development dito ay may itinuro pa s’yang iba na kasama niya, kaya sabi ko (sa kasamahan) makipagtulungan na kayo sa kapulisan,” Abalos said.

When asked if the case is now considered “closed,” Abalos replied, “Malapit na.” By Alfred Dalizon, Hector Lawas, & Joel Dela Torre