San Fernando councilwoman, husband shot dead (Sabong News)

CEBU, Philippines — Violence targeting elective officials in the town of San Fernando, Cebu has resurged, the latest being the fatal shooting of a barangay councilwoman and her husband in their house in Barangay Panadtaran. The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) is now doing an “exploratory investigation” to determine the perpetrators behind Sunday night’s killing of Balungag barangay councilwoman Ma. Louela Baringui-an and husband Pedro. Ma. Louela, or Marilou to her family and friends, was also supposedly running for municipal councilor under the slate of Mayor Lakambini Reluya in the upcoming elections. According to the report, the shooting happened at around 8:55 p.m. in the victims’ house in Sitio Tapok-Tapok, Barangay Panadtaran. The gunmen allegedly used both small and long firearms based on the shells retrieved at the scene. In a press conference yesterday, CCPO Director Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano said they are eyeing three angles in the murder — business-related, political, and personal grudge. “We are looking at more than two angles na possible motives of the shooting of the Baringui-an couple. Katulad ng sinasabi ko, we are still exploring,” said Soriano. As investigation is still ongoing, Soriano assured that they will get into the bottom of the incident to arrive at a concrete conclusion. He further assured that the case will not end on just initial investigation. Soriano said they are initially looking into the possibility that the perpetrators were members of a gun-for-hire group as they reportedly used high-powered firearms in the killing. Soriano also said they received information that the couple was involved in a shooting incident many years back. San Fernando Police Station chief Efren Diaz said both victims had standing charges for frustrated homicide. Also, Soriano said they will include in the investigation the alleged “public knowledge” that the couple was involved in online sabong. "Recently, he (husband) was one of those arrested for illegal gambling in the area but it is not yet sure kung ma-connect natin ito dito sa kanyang death. This is one of the factors na titingnan natin," said Soriano. Despite the fact that Ma. Louela was an incumbent councilwoman and an aspirant for a higher post in the next polls, Soriano said they are still far from concluding that the shooting was election-related. Soriano also said that they could not tell yet who exactly between the two was the original target. However, he added that “it could go either way.” Further, he said that they are also not certain yet whether they will be recommending the area of San Fernando to be considered an election hotspot or watchlist area. This has been the sixth killing involving a local government official of the town since 2018. On March 14, 2018, councilman Alexander Alicaway was shot dead. On January 22, 2019, Mayor Lakambini Reluya was ambushed in Talisay City. She survived, but her husband, Association of Barangay Councils president Nonoy Reluya, driver Allan Bayot, and staff Ricky Monterona were killed. Last January 10, 2019, councilor Rene Boy Dacalos was also shot dead by four unidentified assailants. Then on January 16, 2019, Magsico barangay captain Johnny Arriesgado was also shot dead. Finally, on January 1, 2021, businessman Ruben Feliciano, who was suspected in the ambush of Reluya, was killed in Barangay Apas, Cebu City. —