LINGAYEN–The campaign period and the May 10 polls in the province proved peaceful but the post-election scenario has now been marred by the killing of 2 barangay chairmen within eight days of each other.

A task force has been created by the police to go after the suspects who shot and killed Barangay Kapitan Joel Ugaban, 46, of Bongalon, Labrador on June 5, and Edwin de Guzman, 41, of Tumbar in Lingayen, on June 13.

Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, police provincial director, said the police are still practically facing a blank wall in its investigation into these two incidents and there are still no suspects.

The families of the two slain barangay kapitans insist that the killings were politically-motivated.

Barba said investigators are looking into politics as a possible motive in the slaying of Ugaban, who was active in campaigning for a local candidate in the last election but a land dispute is also a possible motive.

For the De Guzman murder, the police are following up at least three different angles.

There are rumors within the town communities that the kapitans were entrusted with some campaign funds by certain candidates who lost.

Barba said in the absence of hard evidence showing these were politically motivated or were for personal reasons, it is difficult to make a conclusion at this time.

Both killings occurred in broad daylight and it’s likely that some persons may have witnessed the incidents but are afraid to come out in the open and volunteer information to the police that could lead to the possible identification of the suspects.

Incidentally, both victims were on board their barangay vehicles — Ugaban in the barangay truck and De Guzman on his barangay’s patrol jitney — when they were gunned down by motorcycle-riding men who are suspected to be guns-for-hire.

Wounded in the attack on De Guzman was Barangay Councilman Arthur Agilando, 60, of Balococ, Lingayen.

Agilando is now out of danger after he was operated on at the Sto. Nino Hospital in Lingayen.

SHOTGUNS

Meanwhile, Barba said the shotguns that were previously recalled from barangay kapitans have already been returned to them following the lifting of the election gun ban on June 10.

Of the more than 1,300 shotguns that were issued to barangay chairmen, only 800 were recalled during the gun ban that started January 10.

The rest were kept by barangay kapitans after they filed a petition with the Commission on Election central office seeking to allow then to keep the shotguns.

Barba attributed the drop in the crime rate in Pangasinan to the arming of kapitans with shotguns.—LM

Ex-kapitan shot dead in Tayug

TAYUG–A former barangay kapitan was shot dead inside his own videoke bar in sitio San Mariano, Barangay Legaspi here at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The slaying of Efren de la Cruz, 55, former chairman of Barangay D in Tayug and manager-owner of the Bondary Videoke and Bar, is suspected to be another politically-motivated case.

De la Cruz, identified as a supporter of re-elected Mayor Carlos Trese Mapili, is bruited to run again as barangay chief in the barangay elections later this year.

Investigators gathered that the victim was shot by one of two suspects who pretended to be customers.

When De la Cruz entered the place one of the suspects approached him and shot him in the neck and body.

CANADIAN

In another incident in this town, a Canadian citizen was arrested by joint elements of the Tayug Police, Provincial Police Public Safety Mobile Company and Provincial Investigation Branch for allegedly creating trouble and firing his gun indiscriminately while inside a canteen on Barangay A.

Arrested was Nano Pascua, from whom a Jericho Caliber 9mm. pistol with 10 live ammunit6ion in its magazine was seized by the police at 7:55 p.m. of June 16.

He failed to show a permit to possess and carry the firearm.—LM

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