The brother of slain radio commentator Percy Lapid is still clueless on who the mastermind is behind the killing, though he admitted that his feisty sibling often got death threats.
Roy Mabasa, a journalist and columnist for Abante and Politiko, told ANC’s Headstart that the shooting of his brother, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, was undoubtedly related to his work.
Lapid hosted the online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” on DWBL 1242.
“Kung papanoorin mo si Ka Percy, napakatapang ng kanyang mga komentaryo. Kahit minsan kaming pamilya [niya] natatakot talaga. Pero siguro that is the price of taking the risk of imparting to the public yung katotohanan,” he said.
Mabasa said his brother often received death threats throughout his 35-year career as a broadcaster.
“Hindi ako magtataka sa death threats kasi sa loob ng 35 taon ni Ka Percy sa industriya, alam ko, I personally know maraming nagti-threaten kay Percy even in the past,” he said.
Pressed on whether Lapid mentioned anyone who threatened him recently, Mabasa said his brother became secretive in recent years, in part because his children had grown up and he didn’t want to worry them.
“Itong mga huling panahon, ilang taon na ang nakalilipas, si Ka Percy naging secretive na kung meron siyang natatanggap na threat. Siguro ayaw niyang bigyan ng agam-agam o takot ang kanyang pamilya,” he said.
Lapid was shot dead by two unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle on Monday evening (October 3) in Las Piñas City.
The Philippine National Police recently released a photo of one of the gunmen based on surveillance camera footage. A total bounty of P6.5 million– with P5 million coming from the House of Representatives– has been offered for any information that will lead to the arrest of Lapid’s killers.
