Journalist Percival Mabasa was gunned down in suburban Manila on 3 October.
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Philippine police on Monday (November 7th) accused the country’s director of prisons of ordering the murder of a prominent radio journalist, whose death has sparked international concern. Percival Mabasa, 63, who called himself “Percy Lapid” on his show, was shot dead in suburban Manila on October 3 while on his way to his studio.
Police have filed a murder complaint against the director general of the prison administration, Gerald Bantag, who is currently suspended from his duties, and his security assistant, Ricardo Zulueta. The suspected shooter, Joel Escorial, surrendered to authorities last month fearing for his safety after police released his face from CCTV footage, officials said.
Gerald Bantag allegedly ordered the murder of Percival Mabasa after “the exposition continues by the latter of the issues against the former in his show”, Eugene Javier of the National Bureau of Investigation told reporters, reading a statement. Gerald Bantag and Ricardo Zulueta are also accused of ordering the murder of Cristito Villamor Palana, one of the detainees who allegedly conveyed the execution order to Joel Escorial.
Percival Mabasa was a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte as well as the policies and aides of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos. He had also pointed the finger at “red labeling” – the denunciation of communist sympathizers – as well as online gambling operations and disinformation around martial law. He is the second journalist killed since Ferdinand Marcos took office on June 30.