MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Thursday filed criminal complaints against Trece Martires Mayor Melandres De Sagun and others over the killing his Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan last July.
Named in the complaint as respondents were De Sagun and the following personalities:
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- Luis Vasquez Abad Jr.
- Ariel Fletchetro Paiton
- Lawrence “Umbe” Arca
- Rhonel Bersamina
The five named personalities and several others who were unidentified by the police are facing murder and frustrated murder raps over the slay of Lubigan.
Lubigan was killed after an unidentified gunman in a Mitsubishi Montero opened fire at his Toyota Hilux on the Trece Martires-Indang road on July 7.
Calabarzon Police Director Edward Carranza, in a press briefing, said that Paiton, driver and security of De Sagun, is suspected as the hitman.
Abad, meanwhile, was identified by witnesses as the driver of the vehicle used by the suspects.
The police added that the crime is motivated by politics.
“When they learned that the vice mayor will be filing his candidacy as mayor of Trece Martires, the killing was planned,” Carranza said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Lubigan’s death came days after the murders of Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote.
At least 11 mayors and six vice mayors were killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016.
Last week, Ronda, Cebu Mayor Mariano Blanco was killed, in a brazen act of violence, in his own office.
The League of Municipalities of the Philippines sought a meeting with Duterte to air its concerns over the killings. — Kristine Joy Patag