Police authorities released a photo of the “person of interest” in the killing of veteran radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa or also known as Percy Lapid.
In a press briefing on Friday, Oct. 7, the special investigation task force created by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) revealed the suspect who were caught in the CCTV cameras and dashcam.
Interior Secretary Benjamin 'Benhur' Abalos, who presented the suspect’s photo, appealed to the public to report the unidentified person.
“Importante na ma-indentify natin ang taong ito. Kitang kita ang lawaran niya, ang itsura niya. Alam naman ninyo na tayo ay magbibigay ng reward, 500 thousand galing sa akin, at 1 million galing kay Alex Lopez at marami pang gustong tumulong. A total of 1.5 million pesos,” he said.
[It is important to identify this person. Here in the picture, his face is clear. You all know that there is a reward, 500 thousand from me and 1 million from Alex Lopez and there are many people who also wanted to help. A total of. 1.5 million pesos.]
With the suspect’s photo revealed and the reward being given, Abalos expressed confidence that the case would be closed soon.
“Sa taong ito na nasa larawan na ito, ito lang masasabi ko: marami na ang nakakaalam sa iyo, maraming magsusumbong. Siguro sumuko ka na. Napaka-importante na sumuko ka sapagkat pag-isipan mo yung mga nag-utos sa’yo, baka may gawing masama sa’yo. Ayan ang pinaka-magandang gawin mo, ang sumuko ka at pabayaan mo mag-take over ang kapulisan dito,” he warned the suspect.
[To this person in the picture, all I want to say is a lot of people already know you and they may reach out to us. So perhaps you should surrender. It is important to surrender before whoever ordered you to commit the crime might do something bad to you. That is the best thing you can do, surrender and let the police take over.]
Lapid who hosted “Lapid Fire" in DWBL 1242 was gunned down at the Santa Cecilia gate of BF Resort Village in Las Piñas City on Oct. 4.
Various local and international groups condemned Lapid’s murder and called to stop the killings of journalists.
The Palace earlier announced that it would take a look at the conduct of the police investigation.
