Suspect in murder of Philippine radio journalist surrenders

Suspect Joel Estorial, 38, handed himself and the alleged homicide weapon over to police as he feared for his personal security.

Joel Estorial (centre) the alleged gunman within the killing of Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa, is introduced to the media on October 18, 2022 [AFP]

A suspect within the homicide of a veteran radio journalist within the Philippines has surrendered to authorities citing “worry for his private security” after his picture was launched and a reward “positioned on his head”, state media reported.

Radio persona Percival Mabasa, 63, who glided by the title “Percy Lapid” in his present, was shot useless in a Manila suburb on October 3 as he drove to his studio. He was the second journalist to be killed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took workplace in June.

Inside secretary Benjamin Abalos mentioned on Tuesday that Joel Estorial, 38, a resident of Quezon Metropolis, turned himself in to the police on Monday and handed over a gun which he mentioned was the homicide weapon.

“The gun matched the slug (from the crime scene). The ballistics matched,” Abalos advised reporters, calling the give up a “main breakthrough”.

The official Philippine Information Company (PNA) mentioned that Estorial mentioned he determined to give up after his picture was launched as a suspect within the killing and greater than 6.5m pesos ($110,000) had been supplied for his seize.

Police introduced Estorial – sporting a bullet-proof vest and kevlar helmet – to the media on Tuesday however gave few particulars about his background.

The suspect advised reporters that he and three others took half within the ambush on orders from an unnamed particular person on the nation’s nationwide jail, and that after the killing they divided up a 550,000-peso ($9,340) fee amongst themselves.

Estorial – who named his three different co-conspirators nonetheless at massive – additionally mentioned he would have been killed if he didn't undergo with the assault.

He didn't cite the motive or determine the mastermind behind the killing, solely that the order had come from somebody contained in the jail, in keeping with the PNA.

The slain journalist’s family welcomed the arrest however harassed the authorities wanted to do extra.

“We hope this improvement results in the identification, arrest and prosecution of the mastermind,” the sufferer’s brother Roy Mabasa mentioned in an announcement.

“We hope Percy doesn't develop into a part of the statistics.”

Mabasa was an outspoken critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte, in addition to of Marcos’s insurance policies.

The Philippines is among the most harmful locations on this planet for journalists, and killers typically go unpunished.

A complete of 155 journalists and media employees have been killed within the Philippines since 1992, in keeping with the worldwide media watchdog, Committee to Shield Journalists.

The Nationwide Union of Journalists of the Philippines mentioned holding the mastermind accountable for the killing of Mabasa “will assist chip away on the tradition of impunity round journalist killings” within the nation.