Bantag among around 160 ‘persons of interest’ in Percy Lapid slay; broadcaster’s family eyeing to file case

Metro Manila  — Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag is among around 160 “persons of interest” in the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, the country’s police chief said Monday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told reporters Bantag is included in the list as he is among those whom Lapid publicly criticized, based on a police review of the latter’s news commentaries since 2021.

“Mga politiko, mga military, mga police, halo-halo,” he said of the over a hundred individuals. “So, ito mga tinitignan natin na mga probable na mga may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ni Percy.”

[Translation: Politicians, members of the military, and police, among others are included. So, these are the people we are looking at as they may have been involved in the killing of Percy.]