The family of slain broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid wants an independent autopsy done on the body of the alleged middleman named by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial.
An autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on the body of Jun Globa Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of the radio commentator, showed no gunshot wound nor any external physical injury on the deceased Bilibid inmate but pointed to a possible heart problem.
This dovetailed with the initial findings of the Bureau of Corrections on Friday that indicated no signs of foul play in the death of Villamor, who was pointed out by Escorial.
Meanwhile, Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Grace Poe said authorities can still rebound even if they have lost a vital link to the killing of Mabasa after the death of the alleged mabasa…middleman inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Also, ABS-CBN News claimed Saturday documents it obtained showed some of the discrepancies in personal information of Villamor.
“We are appealing for help from anyone who can assist in having anindependent autopsy done on the remains of Villamor,” Roy Mabasa, brother of Percy Lapid, said in an interview on Saturday morning on Dobol B TV.
He said his brother’s family is in deep anguish after learning thatVillamor died hours after Escorial named him as the alleged middleman in the contract to kill the broadcaster.
“What caused more anguish for the family is when we heard that middleman number 1 died. That was Villamor at the Bureau of Corrections. Of course, we were hurt. We got sad because he is important to us. To our knowledge, he was the one who told the gunman to kill Percy Lapid,” Mabasa said.
The independent autopsy “would help in giving us peace,” he added.
“I don’t want to raise any doubt regarding the investigation. We want to follow the system in place in our country and respect what the police are doing in terms of their investigation and search for the suspects,” Mabasa said.
Villamor died at the NBP where he was detained as an inmate, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.
According to the consolidated initial report on Villamor released by the NBI to the media, the body of the alleged middleman was found to have suffered a hemorrhage in the heart.
Lapid was shot dead while he was on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3. He was the host of the online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for the tabloid Hataw.
Escorial, the alleged gunman, surrendered to the police on Tuesday. He identified his accomplices as Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan, and Orlando.
Mabasa said his family is hoping that authorities have identified the correct suspects.
