QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Following the surprising death of alleged middleman in the National Bilibid Prison. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr., ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday to tighten security measures to ensure the safety of the alleged gunman of radio journalist Percy Lapid.
“Inaatasan ko ang PNP na higpitan ang pagbabantay kay Joel Escorial pagkatapos ng masamang nangyari sa mga contact niya sa Bilibid. Siguruhin natin ang kanyang kaligtasan dahil siya ang susi sa pagresolba ng kasong ito,” said Abalos.
In a press conference, Abalos said the DILG and the PNP are surprised and upset with the turnout of the events leading to the unexpected death of the alleged middleman to the Percy Lapid murder case.
“Hinayang na hinayang kami sa nangyari na ito, sana maunawaan ng lahat na pinaghirapan ng PNP ang kasong ito. Day 1 pa lang ay nag-offer na tayo ng reward at halos araw-araw ay talagang pinagpaguran ito ng Task Force Lapid talagang binack-track ito hanggang sa matunton natin itong gunman. It has really been hardwork on the part of our PNP,” he said.
He said the death of the middleman may be a roadblock to the development and possible quick resolution of the high-profile case but he assured that the DILG and PNP will not let go of this case, especially after this unfortunate incident.
“Sa nangyaring ito, hinayang kami, ngayon may autopsy na ginagawa dahil once na malaman na may foul play dito, talagang galit kami. Galit na galit kami and we are demanding na kapag nangyari man iyon, mananagot ang dapat managot,” Abalos said.
On October 18, Abalos presented Escorial to the media following an extensive investigation of the PNP leading to the arrest of the suspect. A bounty of P6.5-million was also circulated to the public to whoever will point to the location of the killer.
He said that incident will only motivate the DILG and PNP to work harder to ensure the murder case’s resolution and bring justice to the family of Percy Lapid. “Huwag kayong mag-alala, ngayon lalo kaming magdo-double time to make sure that whatever other pieces of evidence ay makalap at matunton natin ang mastermind nito.”
Meanwhile, Police Coronel Kirby John Brion Kraft said that the two alleged middlemen, before the said incident, were both secured in the National Bilibid Prison and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
“Kung matatandaan ninyo po, anim ang sinabi ng ating gunman na nagtrabaho sa murder na ito, dalawa po dito middleman na kumontak sa kanila, yung isa nga po nandito sa BJMP. Sinecure po natin ‘yan para po malaman kung anong tunay na nangyari dito sa isang namatay,” Kraft said.
Abalos also said that the early presentation of the alleged gunman did not derail the development of the case, on the contrary, it has aided and hastened the progress of the case. (DILG/PIA-NCR)
