PNP: Other tests can be performed on the body of Percy Lapid slay middleman

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said that other tests could be performed on the body of the alleged middleman in the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid (real name: Percival Mabasa).

According to Mav Gonzales’ report on “24 Oras Weekend,” Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft said that the “PNP will respect whatever the result of the autopsy.”

“Yun po kasing pagsagawa ng autopsy, NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) po ang gumawa nito. Meron lang tayong taga-Forensic Unit na bilang observer. So, kung anumang resulta nito, gagalangin ng PNP. Pwede pa naman pong magsagawa ng ibang test pa po para ma-determine po kung may other source pa ukol sa parte ng katawan po o loob po ng katawan,” Kraft said.

Joel Escorial, the confessed gunman, earlier identified Crisanto Villamor Jr. as the alleged middleman in the killing of Lapid. Villamor is the same person as Jun Villamor who died inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Initial findings showed no signs of physical external injuries on the body of Villamor, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Friday.

According to the consolidated initial report on the death of Villamor released by the NBI to the media, the alleged middleman in the plot to kill Lapid was found to have suffered a hemorrhage in the heart.

However, forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun questioned if the autopsy was done on October 20 since it was not included in the report.

In the autopsy, Villamor was declared dead at 2:05 p.m. on October 18, while his remains were brought to a funeral home at 8:11 p.m. His remains were embalmed a few minutes later.

Fortun raised doubts over the autopsy and toxicology results as they were performed only after embalming.

She also questioned the NBI as to why there was no apparent sign of external injury and that the postmortem lividity or loss of blood of the corpse on its back is compatible with the time of death if the autopsy was done after embalming.

Fortun also said that Villamor's age, histopathology, and medical history should also be known to explain the hemorrhage in his heart. His body must also be referred to a pathologist to find out if there are other problems with his heart, she added.

Lapid’s family earlier requested for an independent autopsy.

"Makakatulong po 'yan na mapayapa ang aming kalooban," Lapid's brother, said Roy Mabasa, referring to the independent autopsy.

Mabasa however said he did not want to raise any doubt in the ongoing investigation.

Lapid was shot dead while he was on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.

He was the host of the online broadcast program "Percy Lapid Fire" at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for Hataw.

Escorial surrendered to the police out of fear for his safety. He was presented to the media on October 18 by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

On October 19, Southern Police District chief Police Brigadier General John Kirby Kraft told GMA News Online that a murder complaint had been filed against Escorial, Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan, and a certain Orly.

The Department of Justice earlier said that the preliminary investigation on the murder complaint filed against Escorial, the Dimaculangan brothers, and Orly would be on Monday, October 24 at 10 a.m. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News