File counter-affidavit, Trece Martires mayor told

MANILA, Philippines — The complaints filed against Trece Martires Mayor Melandres de Sagun and four other councilors in connection with the killing of Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan and his driver will be submitted for resolution if the respondents will not file their counter-affidavits by Oct. 26, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

At the preliminary hearing yesterday, De Sagun’s lawyer, Alexander Nala,  submitted a motion seeking to extend the deadline for the filing of counter-affidavits. 

Nala said they would need 14 days or from Oct. 12 to 26 to file the counter-affidavit of De Sagun and the affidavits of his witnesses. 

Two other respondents – Councilor Lawrence Arca  of Maragondon, Cavite and a certain Rhonel Bersamina – attended the hearing, but were not accompanied by their lawyers. 

The prosecutors ordered the issuance of subpoenas for Luis Vasquez Abad Jr. and the alleged gunman, Fletchetro Paiton, who did not attend the hearing. 

Frustrated murder and two counts of murder and were filed against the suspects.

Lubigan was in a Toyota Hilux driven by Romulo Guilemer with his bodyguard Romeo Edrinal when they were ambushed along the Trece Martires-Indang road on July 8. Edrinal survived the attack.

 Senior assistant state prosecutor Rassendel Rex Gingoyon, DOJ panel head, said the hearings would continue after the respondents filed their counter-affidavits.

The investigation into the incident had just started,  but Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde last week said the murder of Lubigan was among the killing of mayors and vice mayors that have been resolved.