Lapid gunman seeks plea deal

MANILA, Philippines — The self-confessed gunman in the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid is asking a Las Piñas City court to allow him to plead guilty to a lesser offense of homicide.

In a motion filed before the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 254, Joel Escorial asked for the court’s leave for him to enter into plea bargaining.

Escorial is facing murder charges over Lapid’s death along with former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag.

Escorial turned himself in to the police in October 2022, claiming he was paid P550,000 to kill Lapid.

His lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office said the motion was not intended to delay the court proceedings.

“He consented to plead guilty to a lesser offense of homicide after he was informed of his right to plea bargain,” the motion read.

Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa, said Escorial also requested to be transferred to the BuCor’s facility in Samar “for security reasons.”

Leaders of the prison gangs – Aldrin Galicia (Sputnik), Alfie Peñaredonda (HappyGoLucky) and Alvin Labra (Batang City Jail) – had pleaded guilty as accessories to Lapid’s murder.

Bantag and his former deputy Ricardo Zulueta are seeking the reversal of their murder indictment before the Court of Appeals.