Village captain shot dead; city offers P200T reward

CEBU, Philippines - Mantuyong Barangay Captain Antonio Maquilan in Mandaue City was shot dead a few meters away from the barangay hall, while he was inspecting his piggery in Sitio Ihawan along B. Ceniza Street yesterday morning.

The 56-year-old village chief, who was on his wheelchair after he got amputated, was rushed to the University of Cebu-Medical Center (UC-Med) after he suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg.

He was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) after he suffered cardio pulmonary arrest.

Maquilan’s sister, Virginia, said she was with her brother during the attack and she even covered the victim when two motorcycle-riding assailants shot the barangay official.

Virginia even pleaded to the gunman not to shoot his brother.

Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing, in a press conference, expressed his sadness on the incident and assured the family of the slain official that they will get justice for Maquilan’s death.

"It is with tremendous sadness that we confirm that Mantuyong Barangay Kap. Tony Maquilan was shot this morning and was declared DOA upon arrival at UC-Med. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Fe, and their children at this difficult time," Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing said that based on the accounts of the family that he was able to talk to at the hospital, Maquilan was already receiving several death threats through his mobile phone since last year.

Quisumbing said he only learned about Maquilan’s death threats through the victim’s family.

"We learned that he has been receiving threats via phone call and text messages – it was generally extortion. The unknown persons are asking money and have it deposited," Quisumbing said.

The mayor, however, said he did not ask further if the extortion was related to his business or his job as the village chief.

Maquilan, who was on his third and last term, was into the business of buying hogs and selling lechon and chorizo.

Quisumbing already announced that a P200,000 reward awaits anyone who could give information that will lead to the arrest of the assailants.

Mandaue City Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Ricardo Alanas, who was with the mayor during the press conference, created a special task group that will hasten the investigation.

Alanas said they could not determine yet the motive of the killing, but he stressed that they are also looking into all possible angles.

Recovered from the crime scene was one empty cartridge.

Alanas said they will ask for CCTV footages near the area, including that from Colonnade-Mandaue, which was just near the crime scene.

He also said that he will request the telecommunication companies to retrieve the messages and calls from Maquilan's cellular phone. (FREEMAN)