THE National Union of Journalists (NUJP) has welcomed the arrest of one of the alleged gunman in the killing of veteran radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, or popularly known as Percy Lapid.
“The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes the arrest of the suspected gunman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid as a positive development towards accountability for his murder,” the journalists’ group wrote on its social media platforms on Tuesday. “We hope that this arrest will lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of whoever ordered and paid for the killing of our colleague.”
They have called for accountability in the ongoing investigation into Lapid’s murder.
“Accountability in this case will help chip away at the culture of impunity around journalist killings that media, civil society and government agencies have been working to change,” the union continued. “We join the Mabasa family, Ka Percy’s listeners and supporters, and the journalism community in monitoring developments in the case and in waiting for justice for his death.”
On Tuesday, a certain Joel Estorial surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. Two more suspects, who are brothers, are still at large.
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Lapid was killed by men on motorcycle while on his way to work in Las Piñas City.