Suspect in VM Lubigan slay nabbed after 5 years
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership on Saturday announced the capture of the suspected gunman who killed Trece Martires City Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan and his driver on July 17, 2018.
PNP chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said that the suspect with the alias “Dagul/Labuyo” was tracked down in his hiding place in Barangay Sta. Ana in Antipolo City, Rizal, by members of the Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO), headed by Col. Christopher F. Olazo last March 10.
The arrest of the elusive suspect came after months of surveillance conducted by the Cavite PPO, which has launched its special project “Buckledown” to account for most wanted criminals in the province and other parts of the country with the support of other law enforcement agencies.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A Director Brigadier Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said that following months of surveillance, undercover operatives zeroed in on the whereabouts of the suspect and moved to arrest him.
Last March 10, members of the Cavite PPO’s Provincial Intelligence Unit, the Trece Martires City Police Station, the Rizal PPO, and the Antipolo City Police Station under Col. Dominic L. Baccay stormed the suspect’s hideout.
Nartatez said that while about to be captured, the suspect tried to escape and even fired a gun on members of the arresting team. One officer was forced to shoot at the suspect, who suffered a gunshot wound on his left shoulder and had to be hospitalized.
Recovered from the possession of the suspect were a caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine and 16 rounds of live cal. .45 ammunition.
Azurin and the Calabarzon police director commended the Cavite PPO for finally putting the suspect behind bars.
“The successful arrest of the suspect is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement agencies. We will continue to pursue justice for the victims of violent crimes and bring those responsible to account for their actions,” the PNP chief said.
After being released from the hospital, the suspect was placed under the custody of the Trece Martires City Police Station. He will also be facing a separate case for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013 after he yielded the unlicensed pistol.
The confiscated weapon has been subjected to a ballistic examination to determine if it could have been used in the commission of other crimes in the region.
The suspect was indicted as a principal accused in the murder of Lubigan and his driver Romulo Guillemer in July 2018. The vice mayor’s aide survived the gun attack which took place in front of a Korean restaurant along Barangay Luciano.
Maragondon, Cavite municipal councilor Lawrence Arca was also charged in connection with the incident. In 2019, Trece Martires City Mayor Melandres Sagun and two others were cleared of the twin murder case by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The vice mayor was on board his pickup when he was killed along with his driver Guillemer. Lubigan was killed while on his 3rd term as vice mayor of Trece Martires City.
