By Caryl Gonzales

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos expressed his dismay over the alleged middleman in Percival Mabasa's killing inside the Bilibid as the police worked hard on the case.

“Hinayang na hinayang kami sa nangyaring ito sana maunawan ng lahat na pinaghirapan ito ng kapulisyahan ang kasong ito… halos araw-araw talagang pinagpaguran ito ng Task Force Lapid… talagang binacktrack ito hanggang sa matunton natin itong gunman,” Abalos said in a press briefing.

["We are very saddened by what happened, I hope everyone understands that the police worked hard on this case... Task Force Lapid worked hard on this case almost every day... we backtracked the case until we tracked down this gunman,"]

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla reported on Thursday, October 20, the person deprived of liberty (PDL) died inside the New Bilibid Prison on Tuesday, October 18.

He said the alleged middleman was rushed to the hospital for difficulty breathing.

"Ang reason nila, sinasabi nila he was rushed to the hospital (at) 2:30 (pm), unable to breathe. They were trying to revive him. He was dead, so the autopsy is the best way to find out, scientific way to do it," Remulla said.

["The reason they're saying is he was rushed to the hospital (at) 2:30 (pm), unable to breathe. They were trying to revive him. He was dead, so the autopsy is the best way to find out, a scientific way to do it,"]

Abalos said an autopsy is being done and noted that if there were foul play, they would demand those responsible accountable.

“Once talagang merong foul play dito, talagang galit kami. Galit na galit kami and we are demanding, kung mangyari man ‘yun, ay talagang mananagot ang dapat managot,” he said.

["Once there is really foul play here, we are really angry. We are very angry, and we will demand the person responsible will be held accountable,"]

The interior secretary then vowed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) would "double-time" or even "triple time" combing through collected evidence to ensure the search for the person responsible for Lapid's murder.

He also assured the public that this is not a "dead end" of the Mabasa slay case.

Meanwhile, Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft said two middlemen contacted Joel Escorial, the confessed gunman.

The police said the second middleman is safe and secured in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility.

Abalos claimed Escorial is in "very safe hands" under the PNP custody.