Charges versus Mabasa ‘brains’ being readied— DOJ

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is now readying the filing of criminal charges against the purported “brains” behind the killing of radio blocktimer, Percival Mabasa, aka, ‘Percy Lapid’ by this week.

Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla, in a media interview last Friday, October 28, 2022, said he is “very satisfied” with the ongoing investigation of the case being conducted by the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the incident that happened last October 3, 2022.

Mabasa was on his way home in Las Piñas City, Metro Manila, when he was gunned down by motorcycle-riding suspects, resulting to his instantaneous death.

Self-confessed gunman, Joel Escorial surrendered to the police last October 17, 2022 “for fear of his life” and of his family.

The following day, October 18, 2022, the same day he was presented to the media by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Benhur Abalos, another of his accomplice, Crestituto Villamor Palaña, also known as ‘Jun Villamor,’ died under mysterious circumstances at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP), where he was incarcerated after being convicted for murder and frustrated murder.,

Villamor died, “by homicide,” according to a second autopsy of his body conducted last October 26, 2022, after he was identified by Escorial as part of their group who was contracted to kill Lapid in exchange for P550,000.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress. I think that we can; the proper cases can be filed by the end of next week, hopefully,” Remulla told reporters, adding “it’s very possible” that they would also be unmasking the brains who ordered the hit on Mabasa.

His brother, Roy, a journalist, confirmed that their family expects the DOJ to file the cases and named those behind the killing by this Friday, November 4, 2022, during a media interview last November 2, 2022.