Daily Tribune
Joel Escorial on 18 October 2022 issued an extra-judicial confession owning up to the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa. Here follows a timeline of the transaction that led to the cold-blooded murder, based on Escorial's narration and as pieced together by investigators.
5 Sept. 2022 — Escorial is contacted by New Bilibid Prison detainee Crisanto Palana Villamor Jr., alias Jun Villamor Y Globa Y Garcia, in a phone call to inform him about the hit on Mabasa.
15 Sept. — Villamor says P100,000 as a deposit for the P550,000 contract killing is already made to Escorial's bank account.
16 Sept. — A second deposit of P100,000 is made by Villamor also to Escorial's account.
30 Sept. — Escorial says his team started staking out Mabasa to set up the attack.
3 Oct. — Mabasa is killed in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas as he was driving home. Escorial would later narrate that he himself shot the broadcaster twice.
5 Oct. — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos offers P500,000 as a reward to anyone who can help solve the killing of Mabasa or who can identify the suspects.
6 Oct. — Dashcam video of Mabasa's vehicle is released to the public along with other closed-circuit TV footage in an effort to identify the suspects.
9 Oct. — Mabasa is buried at the Manila Memorial Park amid cries for justice.
16 Oct. — Photos of persons of interest in the Mabasa case are released, with the reward money increased to P6.5 million.
17 Oct. — Escorial surrenders to the police, saying he's afraid for his life.
18 Oct. — Escorial is presented to the media by Secretary Abalos during which he says he, along with five other men, planned and executed the contract killing.
Escorial identifies his five "cohorts" as "middlemen" Villamor and Christopher Bacoto; motorcycle driver Orly; and brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan as lookouts.
A few hours later, at 2 p.m., 18 Oct., Villamor is declared dead at the NBP Hospital after allegedly falling unconscious.
20 Oct. — Escorial identifies Villamor through photos taken of his body while in a morgue. Escorial says he has had previous "jobs" with Villamor even before the latter was jailed.
21 Oct. — Justice Secretary announces the relief of BuCor chief Gerald Bantag.
