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Percy Lapid's family getting deaths threats, extortion messages: brother

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Radio commentator Percy Lapid. Percy Lapid Fire Facebook account" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/10/21/20221004-percy-lapid-fire.jpg"/><figcaption>Radio commentator Percy Lapid. <em>Percy Lapid Fire Facebook account</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The family of slain broadcaster Percival Mabasa, more known as Percy Lapid, skipped the preliminary investigation into his killing on Monday after receiving death threats, his brother said. </p><p>A spokesperson represented the family during the preliminary probe at the Department of Justice, where confessed gunman <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/22/escorials-passbook-supports-claim-about-p550000-fee-for-lapid-slay">Joel Escorial</a> showed up. </p><p>&quot;The reason why di ako nakapunta sa preliminary investigation ng DOJ (Department of Justice) kanina [is] because I have been receiving various death threats from Messenger, text messages,&quot; the slain journalist&#x27;s brother Roy Mabasa said. </p><p>&quot;Meron pa nga chat at video calls. Even mga pamangkin, anak ni Percy nakakatanggap ng malisyosong text,&quot; he added. </p><p>(I was not able to go to the preliminary investigation of the DOJ today because I have been receiving various death threats on Messenger, text messages. There are also video calls. Even the nephews, nieces, and children of Percy have received malicious text messages.)</p><p>The messages have caused trauma on the children of the broadcaster, his brother said. </p><p>&quot;Parang di na magiging normal ang buhay namin lahat hanggat di nakikita ang mastermind o salarin,&quot; he said. </p><p>(It seems that our lives will not return to normal until the mastermind is found.)</p><p>The family also received calls offering them supposed evidence in the shooting of Mabasa in exchange for money, his brother said. </p><p>&quot;Nag-o-offer ng ebidensya sa kulungan tapos exchange of sum of money, &#x27;pag di mo binigay sasabihin sa iyo, &#x27;Baka mamatay na kayo ngayong araw na ito,&#x27;&quot; Roy said. </p><p>(They offer evidence in exchange of sum of money. If you refuse, you will be told, &#x27;Perhaps you will die today.&#x27;) </p><p>Mabasa was shot dead in a Las Piñas suburb by motorcycle-riding suspects as he drove to his studio on Oct. 3. Police said it is highly probable the killing was related to his work.</p><p>Last week, Escorial surrendered to authorities, saying he feared for his safety. </p><p>He told reporters he and 3 others took part in the ambush on orders from an unnamed person at the country&#x27;s national prison, and later split the P550,000 reward among themselves. He did not cite the motive nor identified the mastermind behind the killing. </p><p>On the same day Escorial faced the press, an alleged middleman in the murder plot died inside the New Bilibid Prison where he is detained. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/22/22/disparities-seen-in-birth-death-certificates-of-alleged-lapid-slay-middleman">Disparities seen in birth, death certificates of alleged Lapid slay middleman</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/21/22/no-signs-of-foul-play-in-death-of-middleman-in-percy-lapid-case-bucor">No signs of foul play in death of alleged middleman in Percy Lapid case: BuCor</a></li></ul><p>BuCor chief Gerald Bantag has been suspended to give way to an impartial probe into the supposed intermediary&#x27;s death. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/24/22/suspended-bucor-chief-a-person-of-interest-in-lapid-slay">Suspended BuCor chief Bantag a ‘person of interest’ in Lapid killing</a></li></ul><p>Mabasa was the second journalist to be killed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office on June 30.</p><div><strong> — With reports from Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2305373" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The family of slain broadcaster Percival Mabasa has received multiple death threats, his brother said. 