Trece Martires mayor denies murder raps

MANILA, Philippines — Trece Martires Mayor Melandres de Sagun has denied allegations that he had a hand in the murder of Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan and his driver Romulo Guilemer last July 8.

At the continuation of the preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice yesterday, De Sagun submitted a four-page counter-affidavit wherein he denied  that he ordered the killing of Lubigan.

He sought the dismissal of the charges filed against him for lack of merit. 

The other respondents are Councilor Lawrence Arca of Maragondon, Cavite; a certain Rhonel Bersamina, Luis Abad Jr. and the alleged gunman, Fletchetro Paiton.

“I deny in the strongest terms the complaints for murder and frustrated murder… I am completely innocent of the charges and the accusations leveled against me,” De Sagun said.  

“I have been involved in politics for the longest time... I have never been involved in any altercation with the law much less kill or have someone killed in the name of politics,” he added.  

De Sagun, who is on his third term, said he has no motive to kill Lubigan since he is not running for any position in next year’s elections.

“The death of the vice mayor will not benefit me or my family, personally or politically. There is simply no motive on our part... It is a political suicide to commit such horrible crime for it may affect and destroy the reputation of our family,” De Sagun said. 

He said the killing could have been orchestrated by someone who wants to destroy the reputation of his family.  

Lubigan’s widow Gemma is running for mayor next year. She would be pitted against De Sagun’s father Melancio, a former mayor. 

Lubigan was in a Toyota Hilux driven by Guilemer with his bodyguard Romeo Edrinal when they were ambushed along the Trece Martires-Indang road. Edrinal survived the attack.

Prior to the killing, Lubigan reportedly announced his intention to run for mayor in next year’s elections.