Corruption angle eyed in vice mayor’s killing

PRESIDENTIAL Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Chairman Dante Jimenez on Tuesday urged authorities to look into other angles behind the killing of Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan, including corruption.

Jimenez, who visited the wake of the slain vice mayor, said he had received information from a source in Trece Martires that the killing might have something to do with corruption happening in the city.

“I have received information coming from a volunteer in Trece Martires telling me that authorities should also look at corruption angle,” Jimenez said in an interview.

The PACC chairman however declined to elaborate because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Dante Jimenez talks to Gemma Lubigan, wife of slain Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan.

Lubigan and his assistant, Romulo Guillemer, were aboard their vehicle when the gunman, aboard a pickup truck, opened fire along the Trece Martires–Indang Road on Saturday, July 7.

The attack on Lubigan came days after the assassination of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili during the city’s flag-raising ceremony, and the killing of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote.

Jimenez made it clear he was not implying that the slain vice mayor was somehow involved in corruption.

“I’m not referring to a specific individual, what I am asking is for the police to look at other possible angles like corruption instead of limiting it to political motives,” he added.

Jimenez said the information he got from his source was validated by some of the residents whom he was able to talk to when he visited the wake of the vice mayor.

“I challenge them [authorities] now to not limit their investigation on political angle and focus on particular angles and they should speed up the investigation of the case,” he added.

Lubigan, who would have celebrated his birthday today (Wednesday), was supposed to announce his plan to run for mayor Monday during the city council’s session.

The PACC chairman said authorities should start checking the Office of the Ombudsman if there were cases filed against officials of Trece Martires City and start their investigation from there.