The family of slain radio broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa wants an independent autopsy on the body of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official Ricardo Zulueta in order to ease the public's doubts.
Interviewed on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Monday, March 18, Roy Mabasa, brother of Percy Lapid, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should conduct a private independent autopsy.
"Kung magkakaroon ng independent autopsy report, malalagay sa ayos yung agam-agam ng taong-bayan. Ito naman ating kahilingan ay simple lang na gawin," he added.
Roy Mabasa, kapatid ni Percy Lapid, sa pagkamatay ng isang suspect sa Percy Lapid Slay Case: Nagulat din tayo nung mabalitaan sa media kahapon na namatay si (Dating JSSupt. Ricardo Zulueta) nung Biyernes.#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 18, 2024
LIVE: https://t.co/QC88bg2dzh pic.twitter.com/awUG1ZZU6p
According to the Dinalupihan Bataan police's report obtained by DZRH News, Zulueta succumbed to heart failure on Friday evening, March 15.
The 42-year-old former BuCor official's burial was reportedly being held in Brgy. Mabiga in Hermosa, Bataan.
Zulueta has standing arrest warrants for murder charges in connection with the death of Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor, the purported middleman in the case.
Mabasa said Zulueta's death would vastly affect the investigation as the latter knew the murder plan of the alleged mastermind, former BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag.
He believes that Bantag is somewhere in the country hiding. "May nagsasabi na nasa Cambodia daw pero hindi tayo naniniwala. Naniniwala tayo na nandito pa rin si General Bantag."
Mabasa remained optimistic that his brother's case will be resolved in the right time.
"Sa panahon ngayon, maraming hocus pocus na nangyayari sa kaso, kaya ilalagay natin sa kamay ng prosecution iyan. Alam ko na na meron silang balak para diyan at tayo naman ay umaasa na maresobla ang kaso na ito sa darating na panahon," he remarked.
In June last year, the justice department offered ₱3 million reward for any informants who could provide “credible information” that would lead to the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta. The ₱2 million reward will be given to an individual who can give the whereabouts of Bantag while a ₱1 million reward for Zulueta's whereabouts.
