PNP to invite Trece Martires mayor, councilors in probe of Lubigan slay

The Philippine National Police will invite Trece Martires, Cavite Mayor Melandres De Sagun and members of the municipal council to explain the political climate in the town after Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan was ambushed over the weekend.

PNP Southern Tagalog regional director Chief Superintendent Edward Caranza said De Sagun was abroad when Lubigan was killed but hoped that the local chief executive could help shed light on the probable political aspect behind the slay.

According to Mariz Umali's report on Balitanghali, authorities are looking at politics as the motive behind the killing. The victim's family also believes that the motive was political.

Lubigan was killed in an ambush attack shortly before 3 p.m. last Saturday, the third local official to be killed in one week after General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote and Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili, who was assassinated Monday last week.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año earlier pointed out that Lubigan was killed a day after he announced his intention to run for mayor in next year's elections. 

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered a "massive crackdown" on gun-for-hire and gun-running syndicates following the recent killings of the three local officials. —NB, GMA News