History will decide if I’m a villain or a hero. — New Wave speculative fiction writer Harlan Ellison
HARD-HITTING radio commentator and vlogger Percival ‘Lapid Fire’ Mabasa is a dear friend to me and my family and his brutal killing deserves the utmost condemnation as it has again ushered into our society that ‘culture of impunity’ so prevalent during the Duterte administration.
This is because it happened right in the heart of the country—our country’s political and economic center—whereas many similar cases in the past had been confined to the provinces, targeting mostly provincial broadcasters, reporters and editors who had inadvertently stepped on the big toes either of public officials or those involved in organized crime.
In this case, Ka Percy’s assassins—and possibly the mastermind behind the killing—wanted to deliver a chilling message: “We can go after you and put you six feet under wherever you may be.”
The fact remain that our friend Percy was a purist who never condoned corruption in government nor was he someone who could be called as AC/DC (attack and collect/defend and collect), as corrupt media men are called. And he was indeed a hard-hitting commentator who had been critical of the previous administration and even the current one.
Knee-jerk reactions from some quarters have suggested that the blame should rest squarely on the shoulders of the Duterte and Marcos administrations. However, we believe this would be unfair and uncalled for since there are other facts that point to other directions even as police authorities conduct what they say a thorough investigation of Ka Percy’s assassination.
Following the bloody crime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) quickly vowed to get to the bottom of our friend’s murder case and to bring the perpetrator(s) and the people behind to justice. So police investigators should be given enough time to do their job.
Interior and local government secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr.—also a dear friend and once before a drinking buddy with Percy’s brother Roy and other friends who include businessman and horse-owner Roland Lim, city prosecutor Ravi Solis and my cousin Councilor Moti Arceo—condemned the murder and likewise urged police authorities not to leave a single stone unturned and exhaust all efforts to identify and find the perpetrators.
Lapid’s killing is the second to take place in the first three months of former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s six-year term as president of the Republic and it is not something that the new Marcos administration can simply dismiss as an isolated incident.
It is not purely a police matter that can be whitewashed or forgotten because it concerns press freedom, which is guaranteed by our Constitution and is among the cornerstones of our democratic system. On the last night of Percy’s wake, I witnessed so many of his followers and fans who shared their deep bereavement with the passing away of their hero.
They were actually unknown souls who never met their idol but only believed in Percy because of his firm conviction to stand in their defense and fight for their welfare.
However, for me, Percy was not just a hero. He was a dear friend and his demise has left an empty space in my heart.
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FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email filespolice@yahoo.com.ph or text me at cellphone numbers 09054292382 for Globe subscribers and 09391252568 for Smart. Thank you and mabuhay!
