June 26, 2023

Today, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. commended the efforts of the Philippine National Police that helped lead to the conviction of three middlemen in the Percy Lapid murder case.

On Friday, Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra and Alfie Peñaredonda, respectively leaders of the Sputnik, Batang City Jail and Happy Go Lucky gangs in the New Bilibid Prison, pleaded guilty as accessories to the murder of journalist Percival Mabasa, also known as “Percy Lapid,” before the Regional Trial Court of Las Piñas City.

Abalos said, “From the beginning, the police exerted herculean efforts to solve this case, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice.”

“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.”

Lapid was gunned down outside his subdivision in Las Piñas on October 3, 2022. His self-confessed killer, Joel Escorial, surrendered on October 17, 2022, and named Bilibid inmate Jun Villamor as his recruiter. On October 18, 2022, Jun Villamor was killed inside his cell, allegedly to silence him. Subsequently, the DOJ charged former Bureau of Corrections Chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy Ricardo Zulueta as principals in the murders of Lapid and Villamor. The pair are currently at large and facing a government manhunt.

Abalos also thanked DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and the NBI. “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.”

He added, “We take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathies for the Mabasa family. We assure them that there there will be no let up until we bring the masterminds to justice.”

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-lauds-conviction-of-three-middlemen-in-Percy-Lapid-murder-case/NC-2023-1108