Justice for Percy Lapid! Defend Press Freedom!
Justice for Percy Lapid! Defend Press Freedom! Malaya Movement USA Statement on the Murder of Journalist Percy Lapid
Malaya Movement USA condemns in the strongest terms the political killing of Percy Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid, the radio host of Lapid Fire on DWBL 1242. We send our deepest condolences and solidarity to his family and friends.
Lapid was a staunch critic of the Duterte and Marcos Jr. regimes. He fearlessly dispelled fake news and took on hard-hitting commentaries on Duterte’s drug war, government graft and corruption, extrajudicial killings, red-tagging, and the historical revision of martial law atrocities perpetuated by the Marcos political dynasty.
His radio show became a beacon of truth and resistance in a time of political repression and widespread disinformation in the Philippines. In his final show just 9 hours before he was gunned down, Lapid condemned Lorraine Badoy’s red-tagging of Manila Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar.
Lapid’s murder by masked vigilantes on a motorcycle bears the mark of state sponsored, politically motivated assassination. This has been a mainstay in extrajudicial killings in the last few years under the Duterte regime. Lapid is the 26th journalist murdered in the Philippines since 2016, solidifying the country as the most dangerous in Southeast Asia for journalists.
The culture of impunity continues and is perpetuated under Marcos Jr’s presidency with Lapid being the second journalist killed within his first 100 days. On September 18, 2022, radio broadcaster Renato “Rey” Blanco was stabbed to death in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. These killings exemplify the unrelenting attacks on progressive individuals and organizations, similar to the dark days of Martial Law under Marcos Sr. and the looming reality for journalists and critics under the Marcos Jr. regime.
Malaya Movement USA calls for an immediate and independent investigation into the ambush! Stop the killings! Defend press freedom! Justice for Percy Lapid!
