Manila, Philippines – In a recent development in the murder case of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, Denver Mayores, a person deprived of liberty (PDL) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), has been sentenced to 2-8 years in prison after pleading guilty to being an accessory in the murder.

Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Judge Harold Huliganga pronounced the sentence, acknowledging Mayores' conspiracy with former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and DSO Ricardo Zulueta in the murder of Lapid.

The conviction of Mayores, who initially faced a murder complaint as a principal by indispensable cooperation, underscores the complex web of involvement in Lapid's assassination. This development follows the convictions of three Bilibid gang leaders, Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra, and Alfie Peñaredonda, who were found guilty as accessories in Lapid's murder. Additional PDLs have been convicted in the case related to Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the assassination plot.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is closely observing the ongoing legal proceedings, including the case against Joel Escorial, the alleged gunman. Escorial is seeking to reduce his sentence and be transferred to Abuyog prison in Leyte before making his plea, with his case expected to be promulgated in February 2024. DOJ prosecutors are currently evaluating the potential impact of reducing Escorial's charges from murder to homicide.

This series of convictions marks a critical point in the DOJ's pursuit of justice in the high-profile murders of Lapid and Villamor. The Department remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring a thorough and fair legal process in these cases.