Percy Lapid slay case not yet solved — Azurin

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday said the case of the killing of journalist Percy Lapid is not yet solved.

At a press briefing, Azurin said authorities have yet to determine where the kill order against Lapid came from.

“Hindi pa natin masasabi na solved na (We cannot say yet that the case is already solved), although, we have filed the cases already initially against kay Mr. (Joel) Escorial and 'yung mga kasamahan niya (and his companions),” he said.

“Because we have yet to determine nga saan nanggaling, kung totoong may mastermind, saan ba nanggaling 'yung utos (Because we have yet to determine, if there is indeed a mastermind, where the order came from),” he added.

This is contrary to the earlier statement of Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft that the case was already solved considering that suspects were identified and apprehended. However, he added they are continuing the investigation.

Azurin said the authorities have to know if the mastermind only communicated with the “middlemen” in the plot to kill Lapid or if more people were involved.

Lapid, Percival Lapid in real life and host of an online broadcast program and a columnist, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3.

On October 18, self-confessed gunman Escorial was presented to the media following his surrender.

He identified several persons involved in the plot to kill Lapid including two middlemen Cristito Villamor and Christopher Bacoto, who are detained at the New Bilibid Prison and a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

He also identified his cohorts siblings Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and a certain Orlando or Orly, who are still at large.

On October 20, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Villamor died inside the Bilibid on October 18.

Villamor’s cousin Jose, who was also detained in the Bilibid, was secured and transferred to police custody to help in the investigation.—AOL, GMA News