NCRPO to Lapid slay gunman: Surrender

MANILA, Philippines — Saying he should not wait to end up being killed, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) urged the alleged gunman in the murder of veteran radio commentator and columnist Percy Lapid in Las Piñas City to surrender immediately to authorities.

NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo gave the warning yesterday after a suspected member of a gun-for-hire syndicate was killed in an alleged shootout with police in Barangay Payatas in Quezon City on Friday afternoon.

In a statement, Estomo called on those involved in Lapid’s slay “to surrender while there is still time and not wait for something like this or attempt to fight back against authorities.”

Estomo also urged the gunman’s family to surrender him for their protection.

Government officials on Friday released a photograph of the alleged gunman, taken from surveillance camera videos.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. also announced a P1.5-million bounty for any information that would lead to the gunman’s capture

A day since the picture was released, the special investigation task group probing Lapid’s murder has yet to receive leads.

“There is no development yet,” Southern Police District director Col. Kirby John Kraft said in a text message.