Filtered By: Topstories
News

Trece Martires Mayor De Sagun seeks more time to answer murder rap in Lubigan slay case


Trece Martires, Cavite Mayor Melandres De Sagun has sought more time to answer a murder complaint against him over the killing of city vice mayor Alexander Lubigan in July.

De Sagun's lawyer on Friday filed a motion for extension of the filing of the local chief executive's counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice to October 26, two weeks after the original deadline of October 12.

His counsel sought more time to file the answer as he said he was only hired three days prior and given the "gravity of the charges leveled against the respondent."

The mayor himself did not attend the preliminary investigation held at the DOJ headquarters in Manila on Friday afternoon.

De Sagun faces a complaint for murder and frustrated murder over the fatal daylight ambush attack on Lubigan and his driver, Romulo Gillemer, in early July.

Apart from De Sagun, tagged as respondents in the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police were Maragondon Councilor Lawrence "Umbe" Arca, Luis Vasquez Abad Jr., Ariel Fletchetro Paiton, Rhonel Bersamina and other unidentified individuals.

Interior chief Eduardo Año earlier said the killing may have been politically motivated, as Lubigan was shot dead a day after he announced an intention to run for mayor in the 2019 elections.

Lubigan's killing closely followed those of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor Ferdinand Bote.

At least 11 mayors and six vice mayors have been killed under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as of early October, according to an earlier report. —NB, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT