By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called for the end of the culture of impunity and the establishment of a better environment for media workers following the killing of broadcast commentator Percy Lapid, better known as Percival Mabasa.
In a Facebook post, Pimentel called the attention of the authorities and the current administration to resolve the case.
“The killing of veteran broadcast journalist and radio commentator Percy Lapid is yet another proof of a long-standing culture of violence and impunity in the country. We condemn this act of violence. This is a challenge to the Marcos administration,” he said.
The senator also cited the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index where the Philippines ranked seventh “worst among countries having too many unsolved killings involving the members of the press.”
“I call on the administration to resolve the killing of Percy and a number of unsolved killings of journalists, as well as of ordinary people. Let’s put an end to this culture of impunity plaguing our country,” he said.
“Let us create a safe environment for journalists, the members of the media, and the rest of our citizens,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed concern over the killing of Mabasa. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra said authorities are now investigating the incident.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has strongly condemned the killing of the journalist, saying that it is presuming the killing as “work related as a matter of procedure so that the full might of the Presidential task force will be brought to bear against the perpetrators.”
“Rest assured that the PTFOMS will not rest until the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice. There is absolutely no justification for murder,” the task force said in a statement.
Mabasa was shot dead by unknown assailants along Aria St., Sta. Cecilia Village, Talon Dos, Las Piñas City on Monday night, Oct. 3.
The special investigation task group formed is continuing its backtracking of security camera footage to determine the identity of the suspects. – with reports from Patrick de Jesus-ag
