Malacañang condemns Cavite vice mayor’s slay; SITG created

Malacañang condemned over the weekend the killing of Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires City, Cavite on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque also extended condolences to the bereaved loved ones of the third local official to be killed this week.

Vice Mayor Lubigan who was in his Toyota Hilux pick-up with driver-bodyguard Romulo Guillemer were attacked by armed men in a black sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Luciano, Trece Martires City part 3 p.m.

The black Mitsubishi Montero bumped Lubigan’s vehicle to a halt near the Korean Hospital on Trece MartiresIndang Road and then the sound of automatic gunfire broke out.

Lubigan, 55, was killed on the spot, while 50-year-old Guillemer was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

“We strongly condemn the ambush of Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan this afternoon,” Roque said Saturday evening.

“Our condolences go out to the grieving family and friends of the late Vice Mayor Lubigan,” he added.

Roque is also asking the police to exhaust all means to get to the bottom of the case, and also called for the public’s cooperation for it to be resolved faster.

Hours after the ambush-slaying, police created a Special Investigating Task Group (SITG) to solve the gruesome crime.

Senior Superintendent William M. Segun, Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the SITG, which is composed of members of the city police, the PPO, the Cavite Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT), the Crime Laboratory, and other units, are already reviewing the testimonies of witnesses and available evidence that may help solve the case.

“There are hints but we cannot reveal yet,” Segun told The Manila Bulletin Saturday night when asked if the SITG was already following any leads on the assailants.

He said the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the scene is also under review by the SITG.