RADIO broadcaster and columnist Percival Mabasa (also known as Percy Lapid) was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on Monday evening, October 3, 2022, in Las Piñas City.
In a report, police said one of the assailants who was on board a sports utility vehicle bumped the rear portion of Mabasa’s vehicle while the other person onboard a motorcycle shot the victim and fled to an unknown direction.
The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. in Barangay Talon Dos.
Mabasa, who was then on his way home, died on the spot.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has formed a Special Investigation Task Force to focus on the probe into the killing.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to bring justice to the attack.
“Investigation is underway to determine the culprits and motive of this case,” PNP Chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) Brigadier General Roderick Alba said.
Mabasa was the host of the online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” at DWBL 1242 and a columnist of tabloid newspaper Hataw.
He had been critical of the Duterte administration, as well as some personalities in and policies of the current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the killing of Mabasa, saying it displayed the danger being faced by members of the media.
The NUJP said among Mabasa’s most recent commentaries on his YouTube channel was on the dangers of red-tagging, particularly the most recent harassment of Manila Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, who ruled against tagging the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army as a terrorist group.
He had also commented on the security risks of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and on historical distortion of Martial Law.
Mabasa was the second journalist to be killed under the current administration. The first was radio broadcaster Rey Blanco, who was stabbed to death in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on September 18.
“We condole with Lapid's family, including his brother and veteran journalist Roy Mabasa,” the NUJP said.
“We call on the public to join us in condemning yet another murder of a journalist. We call on the Philippine National Police to hold the perpetrators accountable,” it added. (SunStar Philippines)