In a press conference in Camp Crame, Abalos said Joel Estorial, 38, a resident of Quezon City, turned himself in on Monday, October 17, “out of fear for his personal safety” after his photos were released last week and a P6.5-million bounty was placed on his head.
Estorial also surrendered the firearm he used to gun down Lapid on the evening of October 3 at the gate of BF Resort along Aria Street, Barangay Talon 2, Las Piñas City.
“Ang tanong nang publiko totoo kayang sumuko yan or he’s just a fall guy? Hindi po, siya talaga hindi niya lang inamin because the gun itself matched the slug, nagmatch ang ballistics. ‘Yung mga damit (na suot niya nung nakuhanan siya ng CCTV) na pinunit punit niya nandoon pa rin (he presented to the police),” said Abalos.
Abalos said Estorial issued an extrajudicial confession where he also named his cohorts identified as brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and a certain Orly, who are all still at large.
Wearing a bulletproof helmet and vest, Estorial faced the members of the media and apologized to the family of the victim.
“Sana mapatawad ako, di ko naman kagustuhan ‘yun, dala lang ng kahirapan,” he said.
Estorial said the order to kill Lapid came from someone inside the National Bilibid Prison. Abalos said police are still identifying the mastermind of the crime, as well as the motive.
Estorial said they were paid P550,000 in which he got P140,000.
He said Orly served as his driver during the mission, while the Dimaculangan brothers served as a back-up team.
“Kasi ‘yung ano usapan, kung sino ang matapat doon kay Percy po, siya ang babaril eh nagkataon natapat sa akin, sabi naman po (ni Orly) kapag hindi ko binaril, ako ang papatayin kaya binaril ko na po si Percy,” said Estorial.
Abalos urged Estorial’s cohorts to also surrender to the authorities and cooperate in the conduct of the investigation. (SunStar Philippines)