MANILA, Philippines (Updated 9:58 a.m.) — Binawian ng buhay ang beteranong komentarista sa radyo na si Percival Mabasa (mas kilala sa tawag na Percy Lapid) sa Las Piñas City matapos pagbabarilin, pagkukumpirma ng Philippine National Police at mga kasamahan niya sa media.
Lunes ng gabi nang iulat ng DWIZ broadcaster Marou Sarne, na bandang 8 p.m. nang pagbabarilin si Mabasa ng dalawang nakamotorsiklo habang papunta sa BF Resort Las Piñas kung saan siya dapat mag-o-online broadcast.
"One of the famous commentators on radio and a former broadcaster of DWIZ 882 KHZ AM, Percy Lapid, was ambushed and died in Las Piñas City at past 8 this evening," ani Sarne kagabi.
"His KBP ID and other cards named PERCIVAL MABASA were retrieved from his vehicle. He was alone in his vehicle. Rest in peace, Ka Percy. 10.03.2022."
"We are deeply saddened and angered by the brutal and brazen killing of fearless broadcaster, father and husband, brother and friend, Percy Lapid," ayon sa opisyal na pahayag ng pamilya Mabasa.
"We strongly condemn this deplorable crime; it was committed not only against Percy, his family, and his profession, but against our country, his beloved Philippines, and the truth."
"We demand that his cowardly assassins be brought to justice."
Anila, respetado siya ng kanyang mga katrabaho, tagasunod, kahit ng mga kaaway dahil sa matatapang na komentaryo laban sa disinformation.
Kahapon lang ay sinasabing nakapag-upload pa siya sa kanyang Youtube page ng komentaryo laban sa red-tagging, bagay na inere sa kanyang programang "Lapid Fire" sa DWBL.
Nangako naman ang PNP na bibigyang katarungan nila ang nangyari sa naturang media personality.
"The PNP vows to bring justice to an attack against a member of the media industry. Investigation is underway to determine the culprits and motive of this case," ayon sa pahayag na inilabas ng kapulisan.
"A Special Investigation Task Force was already created by Las Piñas City Station of NCRPO to spearhead and coordinate the investigative and prosecutorial efforts of the PNP."
Kritiko nina Marcos, Duterte
Kinundena rin ni House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro (ACT Teachers Partylist) ang sinapit ni Mabasa, lalo na't kilala ang nabanggit bilang kritiko ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
"Nakakabahala na talaga ang pagpapatuloy at paglala ng extra-judicial killings at harassment sa bansa at ang tinatarget ay mga kritiko ng administrasyong Marcos at Duterte, media man, aktibista o oposisyon pati ang mga relihiyoso," ani Castro sa isang pahayag.
"Indeed, the culture of impunity is worsening in the country. We condemn this heinous act against Percy Lapid and we are calling for an impartial probe on the matter."
Nananawagan din ang kanilang kampo na kagyat maimbestigahan ng Commission on Human Rights at ng Konggreso ang nangyari upang mailantad ang harassment at pagpatay sa mga kritiko ng gobyerno.
'Peryodismo delikado pa rin sa Pilipinas'
Sa ulat ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, si Mabasa na ang ikalawang peryodistang namatay sa ilalim ng Marcos Jr. administration.
Pangalawa lamang siya sa radio broadcaster na si Rey Blanco na sinaksak sa Mabinay, Negros Oriental nitong ika-18 ng Setyembre.
"The killing shows that journalism remains a dangerous profession in the country," wika ng NUJP sa isang pahayag.
"That the incident took place in Metro Manila indicates how brazen the perpetrators were, and how authorities have failed to protect journalists as well as ordinary citizens from harm."
Join us in condemning another murder of a journalist.
— NUJP (@nujp) October 4, 2022
Justice for Percy Lapid! pic.twitter.com/prytGWY2cO
Nakikiramay din ang NUJP sa pamilya ni Lapid, pati na sa kanyang kapatid at beteranong journo na si Roy Mabasa.
Maliban sa mga komentaryo laban sa red-tagging lalo na kay Manila Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, idiniin din niya sa kanyang programa ang risks ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators at pagbabaluktot sa kasaysayan ng Martial Law.
"We call on the public to join us in condemning yet another murder of a journalist. We call on the [PNP] to hold the perpetrators accountable," panapos nila. — may mga ulat mula kina Xave Gregorio at Franco Luna