House condemns senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percival Lapid
THE House of Representatives has condemned the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa, known for his advocacy against abuses and irregularities, as it expressed grave concern for the safety and security of journalists in the country.
“Local and international journalists were outraged and deeply saddened by the killing of Mr. Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ C. Mabasa, and they considered this dastardly act as an attack to the freedom of speech and of the press that must be stopped in order to save and maintain democracy,” read House Resolution No. 489 adopted on Monday.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ C. Mabasa and to express grave concern for the safety and security of journalists in the country,” it added.
The House resolution was introduced by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan.
Mabasa, professionally known as “Percy Lapid” famous for his commentary program in YouTube channel called “Lapid Fire”, was brazenly gunned down in front of his house in Sta. Cecilia Village, Las Piñas City on October 3.
He was born on March 14, 1959 in Tuguegarao to parents, Carmelita Lapid Carag and Marcelo “Mars” Mabasa, Sr., a journalist and radio commentator who inspired Mabasa to venture into the broadcast industry.
According to the resolution, Mabasa served in the broadcast industry for four decades as a radio broadcaster and commentator; host of numerous programs in different radio channels such as DZME, DWBC, DZRM, DWIZ, DZRJ and DWBL; columnist for Hataw at JSY Publications; and one of the directors of the National Press Club of the Philippines from 2008-2010. It noted that before his untimely death, Mabasa’s commentary program got 119 million views since its premiere on May 8, 2019 and was also aired by DWBL 1242 radio station where he expressed criticisms against alleged abuses and irregularities.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. himself ordered an investigation into the killing, and a special investigation task group was later created by the National Capital Region Police Office of the Philippine National Police, the resolution noted. On October 18, 2022 or 15 days after the killing of Mabasa, a certain Joel Estorial, the alleged gunman surrendered to the police authorities and claimed that he acted on a hit order placed on the radio commentator’s life that came from inside the New Bilibid Prison, the Philippines’ primary maximum-security penitentiary.
