Lipa City barangay captain shot dead; 2 suspects nabbed

LIPA CITY – The president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in this city was shot dead in a cockpit arena Friday night.

Batangas provincial police director Senior Supt. Edwin Quilates identified the victim as Marlon Luancing, 62, barangay captain of Barangay Antipolo Del Sur.

The suspected gunman and his father were later nabbed in a hospital in Silang, Cavite.

Quilates said the victim was shot several times at the Lipa Games and Amusement Complex in Barangay Balintawak at around 8 p.m.

Luancing sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body and expired while being revived at hospital.

Quilates added that Police Officer 3 Ronald Villegas, 46, who rushed to the scene of the crime, was likewise shot by the gunman.

Villegas, who managed to return fire, was wounded but was last listed in stable condition.

Also wounded in the shooting were Keempee De Leon, 21; Carmelo Malabanan, 56, both cockpit arena employees and Edmundo Benero, 55, a fighting cock breeder.

They were brought to Lipa Medix Hospital for treatment.

Quilates said the Lipa City police immediately alerted police units in the region in bid to capture the wounded gunman.

At around 1:30 p.m. a man with a gunshot wound was brought to a hospital in Silang, Cavite.

“When the police arrived at the hospital, the father of the man was about to take home his son claiming they were involved in a hold-up incident in Carmona, Cavite but when we verified, there was no such incident.” Quilates said.

He added the father of the wounded man was seen on the cockpit’s CCTV camera footage apparently serving as lookout during the attack.. He was positively identified by witnesses.

The wounded suspect and his father were transferred to another hospital for security reasons and are under police custody.

Quilates said further investigation is ongoing to pinpoint the brains and motive of the killing.

Luancing was known as a supporter of Lipa City Mayor Meynard Sabili.

His daughter is running for city councilor in next year’s election under the ticket of Sabili’s wife.

Barely a month ago, another supporter of Sabili, Napoleon Laguerta Sambayan, chairman of Barangay Anilao Proper was also gunned down while driving his car.