LINGAYEN–Was politics behind the brutal slaying of the former chief of Task Force Marshal in Dagupan City?

Adel Malapit, who headed the unit tasked to secure government buildings and offices during the administration of ex-Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., was gunned down in the afternoon of September 6 in Barangay Paronking, Calasiao.

Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, who just turned over his post as provincial police chief on September 8, said the police is looking into all possible motives for the crime, including politics, business and personal.

Malapit, 38, an Army reservist was shot at by three hooded men armed with an M16 Armalite rifle and a shot gun along a road intersection just a few seconds after his wife, two daughters and their companions alighted from the family car which was blocked by a black Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) without a plate number.

After Fernandez lost in the last election, Malapit reportedly relocated to Mangatarem.

He was never seen in Dagupan again until last Sunday when he and his family attended the first death anniversary of his elder sister in Barangay Tambac.

The shooting took place as Malapit and his family were on their way back to Mangatarem from the occasion

Witness accounts say when Malapit, who was driving their car, pulled over, the three armed men wearing black bonnets alighted from the SUV and immediately pointed their guns at him.

Malapit reportedly shouted “Time out, may bata rito“, referring to his two children.

The assassins apparently heeded his pleading and held fire until Malapit’s wife, PO2 Maryjane Malapit, a policewoman from Mangatarem town, their two daughters, a six and a two-year old, and other companions got out of the vehicle.

Malapit was immediately fired upon as soon as his family had alighted from the car.

At least 28 empty shells of M16 armalite rifle bullets were found at the crime scene by responding policemen, an indication that the killers were out to eliminate Malapit.

With his military background, Malapit was tapped in 2007 to head Task Force Marshal organized by the city administration under Mayor Fernandez and he held the position on a co-terminus basis.

MANHANDLING

Two days before the May 10, 2010 election, Malapit led members of Task Force Marshal who were allegedly involved in manhandling one of the candidates, now Councilor Brian Lim and his men in Barangay Bolosan.

The election-related incident involved a campaign group led by the wife of then City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, son of then Mayor Fernandez, who claimed of being harassed by a party led by the young Lim, son of current Mayor Benjamin Lim. –LM

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