Trece Martires vice mayor slay: Raps filed vs mayor

MANILA, Philippines — The Cavite police filed murder and frustrated murder charges yesterday against Trece Martires Mayor Melandres de Sagun in connection with the killing of Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan last July.  

Probers said Councilor Lawrence Arca, who sold the vehicle used in the killing for P25,000; Rhonel Bersamina, who received the money on behalf of Arca; Luis Abad Jr., the driver of the Toyota Hilux used as a getaway vehicle, and Ariel Paiton, the alleged gunman and employee of the city hall security unit, were included in the charge sheets.

Five other John Does were named respondents in the cases.

All the suspects remain at large. De Sagun is reportedly in the United States.

Senior Superintendent William Segun, Cavite police director, was accompanied by Lubigan’s wife Gemma and Anabel, wife of Lubigan’s aide Romulo Guillemer, in filing the charges before the Department of Justice. 

On mayor’s orders

Segun said the sister of Paiton told probers that her brother confided to her that he killed Lubigan upon the orders of  De Sagun.

Segun said Lubigan’s security aide Romeo Edrinal, who survived the ambush, positively identified Paiton as the gunman.

Lubigan and Guillemer were killed in an ambush along the Trece Martires-Indang road in front of the Korean-Philippines Friendship Hospital in Barangay Luciano.

‘Intricate’ murder plot

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Lubigan’s killing was an “intricate” murder plot.

“We will wait for the warrant of arrest,” Albayalde told a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon  police director, said probers are eyeing politics as the motive for the killing.

“The killing was planned when the suspects learned that the vice mayor will file his candidacy as mayor of Trece Martires,” Carranza said.

Lubigan’s wife said her husband and De Sagun had a falling out because of politics. She said the rivalry was “intense” that her husband was removed from the ticket of De Sagun two weeks before the 2016 elections.

She said she realized something was wrong when Lubigan started looking for a bulletproof vest and a gun.

Gemma said she would run for mayor in next year’s elections.

“Itutuloy ko ang adhikain ni vice mayor,” she said.