Lapid buried as bounty hits P6.5 million

MANILA, Philippines — Slain radio broadcaster Percy Lapid was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque yesterday afternoon.

The bounty for information leading to the capture of his killers has reached P6.5 million after Speaker Martin Romualdez announced yesterday a P5-million reward, which will come from several congressmen.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier declared a bounty of P1.5 million, P500,000 of which will come from his own pocket.

Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa, was shot dead in Las Piñas last week while on his way to work.

Lapid’s family, friends and colleagues went to his funeral as they called for justice for his murder.

His brother, journalist Roy Mabasa, said in a speech that the presence of family and friends “shows the big legacy left by Ka Percy… in his 35 years of service in the broadcast industry.”

“He protected the rights of the poor, he protected press freedom. Now that we will bury my brother, may we always remember the legacy of Percy Lapid. May this serve as the planting of seeds toward the fight for our freedom,” he added.

Police over the weekend called on Lapid’s still-unidentified assailants to surrender peacefully.

Abalos released a photograph of the alleged gunman, as taken from closed-circuit television videos.

Lapid is the second journalist killed during the administration of President Marcos.