Broadcaster’s killers hunted

MANILA – Police continue to search for two motorcycle gunmen who shot dead a veteran broadcaster in Las Piñas City.

Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid and a staunch critic of the previous Duterte administration and the current Marcos government was murdered on Monday evening, October 3 while driving his car near BF Resort Village.

The murder was believed to be related to his Lapid’s work as dwBL’s broadcaster . He is the second media man killed under the Marcos administration. Another broadcaster, Rey Blanco, was also killed in Negros Oriental’s Mabinay town last month. 

Lapid’s family issued this statement: “We are deeply saddened and angered by the brutal and brazen killing of fearless broadcaster, father and husband, brother and friend, Percy Lapid. We strongly condemn this deplorable crime; it was committed not only against Percy, his family, and his profession, but against our country, his beloved Philippines, and the truth.”

“Percy is beloved by many and highly respected by peers, fans and foes alike. His bold and sharp commentaries cut through the barrage of fake news over the air waves and social media.  We demand that his cowardly assassins be brought to justice.” 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index, the Philippines is the seventh worst country when it comes to unsolved killings of journalists. 

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has condemned Lapid’s murder, saying “the killing shows that journalism remains a dangerous profession in the country. That the incident took place in Metro Manila indicates how brazen the perpetrators were, and how authorities have failed to protect journalists as well as ordinary citizens from harm.” 

The NUJP also said that Lapid had been critical of the Duterte administration as well as some personalities in and policies of the Marcos administration. (Mindanao Examiner)