Barangay dad also killed in attack on town councilor

CEBU, Philippines — The shooting incident on Wednesday night that killed Magsico, San Fernando barangay captain Johnny Arriesgado has claimed another life – that of a councilman.

Chief Inspector Lymel Pasquin, chief of San Fernando police, identified the second fatality as Adnes Alfeche Lauronal, 37, a councilman of Barangay Liburon, same town.

In a Facebook chat, a relative told The FREEMAN that Lauronal was riding a motorcycle with a certain Antonio Canoy along the national highway in Barangay South Poblacion when they were hit by a brown multicab that was seemingly out of control.

It turned out that the cab was driven by Arriesgado who, at that time, lost control of his vehicle after being shot by assailants who were reportedly onboard a white van.

Arriesgado’s car swerved on the road before falling off a bridge. He was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

As for Lauronal, he got thrown off the motorcycle after the impact, suffered injuries, and died of hemorrhage a few hours later in the hospital.

The family has yet to meet to discuss their next move. His wake is at a funeral parlor in the neighboring city of Carcar.

Canoy, for his part, was already out of harm’s way and was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Investigation

Meanwhile, police are facing a blank wall in their investigation into Arriesgado’s killing.

Pasquin, the newly-installed police chief of San Fernando, said at a press conference yesterday that they are not discounting illegal drugs as a possible angle, though they will do a thorough background check on the victim first.

Part of the investigation is to see whether Arriesgado had connections with self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.

“May background investigation na and backtracking until makakuha ng possible lead. We have information na linked siya kay Sabalones, pero subject for confirmation (We’re doing background investigation and backtracking to get leads. We received unconfirmed reports Arriesgado was connected to Sabalones),” Pasquin said.

For now, the two major motives being looked into are personal grudge and work-related matters, but Pasquin clarified that these angles may be changed along the course of their investigation.

Pasquin also said they will talk to Arriesgado’s family to check whether he had received any forms of threat recently.

Arriesgado first figured in the news about a year and a half ago after he and two other San Fernando officials were arrested in raids that yielded loose firearms and drugs.

At the crime scene yesterday, police recovered empty shells of M16 and .45 caliber pistol but they did not retrieve any firearms or illegal items from Arriesgado’s vehicle.

Police will check if closed-circuit television cameras nearby were able to capture the incident.  Arriesgado’s death continues the spate of killings in the southern part of Cebu.

To recall, drug suspect Tocillo Ababon was killed by unknown gunmen while being transported to a court in Argao town for the hearing of his case on illegal drugs on January 9.

The following day, San Fernando municipal councilor Reneboy Dacalos was also shot dead by unidentified perpetrators inside the store of his brother-in-law in Barangay South Poblacion.

Pasquin confirmed that the two shootings were related. But whether Arriesgado’s was also part of this series remains subject of investigation.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office earlier suspected that the killings may be associated with the alleged resurgence of the Sabalones drug group in time for the May elections. The group is allegedly backing the campaign of some public officials in San Fernando.

Pasquin said they are coordinating with Talisay City Police Station to check if the recent slay of a village watchman in the city was also connected to the killing of Arriesgado, considering that a white van was also used by the assailants that time. — JMD (FREEMAN)