DOJ, DILG chiefs, other officials meet ahead of filing of cases in Percy Lapid slay

Top officials of the key government agencies met on Sunday to discuss key findings a day ahead of the filing of the cases against those said to be involved in the slay of the broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

In Mav Gonzales' exclusive report on GMA Integrated News’ “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the meeting served as the final briefing of top officials so that everything will be "airtight."

Among the officials who attended the meeting were DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Director Medardo de Lemos, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and NCR Police Office Director Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo.

“We are preparing lahat ng [all of the] documentary requirements for a possible fight,” Southern Police District Director Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft said in the same report.

The meeting comes as cases are set to be filed on Monday, November 7, regarding the murder of Mabasa, who was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Las Piñas City on October 3.

Self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial has since surrendered to the police, identifying supposed accomplices as siblings Israel and Edmund Dimaculangan and a certain Orly.

Escorial identified two middlemen supposedly involved in the murder as Cristito Villamor detained at the New Bilibid Prison, and Christopher Bacoto detained in a jail facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

He said the killing of Mabasa was facilitated by a certain “Bantag.” He did not specify the identity of the Bantag he was referring to, but the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) was at that time headed by Director General Gerald Bantag.

Escorial said he was asked by New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito Villamor-Palaña (Jun Villamor) not to identify the facilitator of the hit, in fear of his life. Palaña was killed around noon on October 18.

Escorial also said he received P550,000 worth of deposits into his account for the killing of Lapid, which was confirmed by Justice Secretary Remulla, citing the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“Some of them have been traced, some of them are still being traced as we speak because that’s not yet the formal report. That’s the preliminary report that we requested,” Remulla said in the report on Sunday. — BM, GMA Integrated News