Lapid kin wants autopsy on Zulueta’s remains

THE family of slain broadcaster Percy Lapid, whose real name was Percival Mabasa, is calling for an independent autopsy to be conducted on the remains of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, one of the accused in the killing of Lapid.

Roy Mabasa, Lapid’s brother, said that “an independent autopsy report would assure the public that we are indeed after the truth.”

“We would like the [Philippine National Police] to ascertain the real cause of his death since he was originally tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing,” Mabasa said over the weekend.

The Dinalupihan Police said they received reports that Zulueta was rushed to the Bataan Peninsula Medical Center on Friday night, March 15, by his brother, Ronald.

Zulueta supposedly died of heart failure, and his body was then brought to a funeral home and later transferred to Barangay Mabiga in Hermosa, Bataan.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an in-depth investigation into the death of Zulueta.

“Exert greater efforts, act swiftly, delve deep and uncover the truth by all means possible. This calls for action the soonest possible time,” Remulla said.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has not yet received a formal report from the NBI regarding the death of Zulueta.

“We are still looking into the veracity of these reports and will update the public as soon as we receive word from the NBI,” said Remulla.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022.

Zulueta, with former BuCor director general Gerald Bantag, was charged “as principals by inducement” in two murder complaints for the deaths of Lapid and Cristito Villamor Palaña, who was identified by confessed gunman Joel Escorial as the alleged middleman in the broadcaster’s slay.

Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, also named respondents in the Lapid case were inmates Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia and Alfie Penaredonda.

In the Villamor Palaña case, Bantag and Zulueta’s co-respondents were Labra, Galicia, Mario Germones Alvarez, Joseph Medel Georfo, Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan de la Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes.

The case involving Lapid’s killing was filed on Oct. 18, 2023.

Named respondents were Escorial, Bacoto, brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a person identified only as “Orly” or “Orlando.”

The complaint against Escorial and his group was consolidated with those filed against Bantag and the others.