Quezon City barangay executive shot dead; land dispute eyed

MANILA, Philippines - A village official was gunned down in Quezon City Monday night, with police investigators looking into a land dispute as a possible motive for the murder.

Barangay Batasan Hills councilor Edgar Macario, 49, was dead on arrival at the Malvar General Hospital from four gunshot wounds in the body.

Police Officer 1 Hermogenes Capili said two men on a motorcycle shot Macario at the barangay’s covered court at past 8 p.m.

“The victim reportedly has had rifts with several people because of land disputes in the village. Reportedly, he was instrumental in removing a number of illegal settlers in the area,” Capili said.

Village chairman Ranulfo Ludovica told policemen he and the victim have been campaigning against land-grabbing syndicates and informal settlers in the area, with village officials admitting that there has been resistance from alleged syndicates.

Ludovica told police that syndicates have been selling government lands to people who eventually become informal settlers of the properties. – Reinir Padua