Cavite vice mayor shot dead days after Halili, Bote murder

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED: 5:28 p.m.) — Trece Martires City, Cavite Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan has been reportedly shot dead Saturday, the latest in a string of killings of local government executives.

According to report from News5 Aksyon, Lubigan, 44, was gunned down in front of a Korean hospital.

The slain vice mayor was inside a black Toyota Hilux vehicle when the killing happened at 3:15 p.m. in Brgy. Luciano, Trece Martires City, CALABARZON Region Police Chief Edward Carranza told DZMM radio.

Carranza added that the police are looking into local politics as the possible motive behind the murder.

Police Senior Superintendent William Segun, Cavite's police director, said Lubigan died on the spot. Meanwhile, reports say his companion, Romulo Guillemer, 55, passed away at General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital.

Lubigan’s death came less than a week after the assassination of mayors of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija and Tanauan City, Batangas—raising fresh fears that there’s a growing climate of impunity under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But the Palace had said the recent killings of local government executives were an "attempt to erode the confidence in the president, whose main platform of governance rests on fighting crimes." — Ian Nicolas Cigaral with Non Alquitran and Arnell Ozaeta