Cavite mayor to be invited over vice mayor’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — Probers will invite the mayor of Trece Martires in Cavite and other city government officials in connection with the killing of Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan and his aide on Saturday.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police director, said he has yet to talk to Mayor Melandres de Sagun, who is reportedly abroad.

“It is not a summons. He can either come or refuse the invitation. He is also not considered a person of interest,” Carranza pointed out. “No suspect has been identified yet.”

“We have requested for a meeting with other local government officials in Trece Martires... We are still waiting for when... they can give information that can help us solve this case,” Carranza said.

Lubigan was in a black Toyota Hilux driven by his security escort Romulo Guilemer when an unidentified gunman in another Toyota Hilux opened fire along the Trece Martires-Indang road.

Lubigan died at the scene while Guilemer died while being treated in a hospital.

Carranza said the task force created to investigate the killing is eyeing politics as the motive for the killing.

“We are looking at politics considering that last Wednesday, Lubigan announced his plan to run for mayor in 2019,” he said.

“I talked to the chief of police regarding a report that the vice mayor’s office had been transferred to a smaller space,” Carranza added.

De Sagun and Lubigan, who are runningmates in previous elections, are both serving their third and final term.

P200,000 reward

Meanwhile, a reward of P200,000 was offered by Cavite sixth district Rep. Luis Ferrer for information leading to the arrest of the assailants, Senior Superintendent William Segun, Cavite police director, announced yesterday.

Segun appealed to the public to contact the police for any information related to the killing through mobile phone numbers 0916-9860679 or 0998-9673346.

Superintendent Reynan Patam, Trece Martines police chief, said they are getting the statements of witnesses, including barangay tanod Agustin Benitez, who reported the incident.

Patam said they have secured closed-circuit television footage showing the getaway vehicle used by the assailants.