Biazon aide shoots 3 in campaign caucus

MANILA, Philippines - A security aide of Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon allegedly shot three people during a scuffle at a campaign caucus of the Liberal Party (LP) in Muntinlupa City Friday night.

Charges have yet to be filed against Marine Cpl. Nelson Lubrin, who fled to the Philippine Marines headquarters at Fort Bonifacio after the shooting. Col. Fernando Gomez surrendered Lubrin to the Muntinlupa police at past 4 a.m. yesterday. 

“We are still waiting for complainants to appear,” city police chief Senior Superintendent Roque Vega said.

Police said that prior to the shooting, Lubrin was at the LP caucus at a covered court in Barangay Putatan at about 10 p.m. when he got into a fistfight with Nilo Marullano, an aide of another LP politician, with whom Lubrin has a long-standing conflict.

Victor Marullano and Oscar Parajili, also aides of other LP politicians, joined the fight. Police said it was at this point that Lubrin drew his .45 caliber pistol and shot at the three men hitting them in the arms and abdomen.

The victims were rushed to the Muntinlupa Medical Center and then to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.

Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Erwin Villacorte said if no complainants surface, the Muntinlupa police would still charge Lubrin with frustrated homicide.

Biazon, meanwhile, said he will not condone his security aide’s actions and will not interfere in the police investigation.

He said he was at the caucus of his father, Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who is running for re-election. He and his father had planned to have a late dinner after the caucus.

The younger Biazon said his aides were with him but they stayed outside the venue of the caucus.

He said he also personally accompanied the three victims to the hospital to ensure they would receive proper medical attention. He said the latest information he received was that they were out of danger.

Biazon promised to shoulder their hospital bill. He also asked the public not to speculate that the shooting was linked to politics.