Barangay chairman killed in village hall strafing in Pampanga

A barangay chairman was killed as the village hall was strafed in Arayat, Pampanga, Jun Veneracion reported Monday on "24 Oras."

It was past 8 p.m. when a CCTV caught a vehicle in front of the Lacquios barangay hall.

The person who first got out of the vehicle fired several gunshots at the entrance of the barangay hall while another gunman fired a shot in the air.

The incident led to the death of Barangay chairman Mel Lumbang.

“Dahil barangay captain si kapitan so yung motive nito malamang kasama and pulitika dito, plano nya based sa mga tao doon parang tatakbong vice mayor sa darating na halalan,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Edejer, Pampanga Police Provincial Office.

(Since he is a barangay captain, the motive in the killing includes politics because according to some people, he plans to run for vice mayor in the upcoming election.)

Lumbang was sitting on a chair when he was allegedly shot using an M16 riffle.

According to his family, Lumbang was shot six times at the back and three times at the front.

He was brought to the hospital but eventually died.

The family said some residents noticed unfamiliar faces and a vehicle passing through the area before the incident.

“Dito po ang pulitika mabigat po pag sasapit ang election period ganyan po ang nangyayari sa bayan na ito,” Lumbang’s wife said.

(This is what happens here during the election period.)

Lumbang’s son said their family is not the only ones grieving, but also the whole barangay.

Bullet castings of the M16 rifle can still be found in the barangay hall.

One of the residents said he saw the barangay chairman lying down wounded.

“Iyakan nga yung mga tao kasi di nila alam yung kapitan ganoon ang gagawin,” the resident said.

(The people were crying because they did not know what to do.)

Lumbang’s family said before his death, the barangay chairman escaped two ambushes in 1999 and 2001.

The Pampanga police have formed a special investigation task force group to focus on the Lumbang’s case.

“Based on our investigation, yung tatlong bodyguard ni kapitan nakapag retaliate pa, malamang sabi nga doon sa area tinamaan pa yung gunman,” Edejer said.

(Based on our investigation, Lumbang’s three bodyguards were able to retaliate and one of the gunmen was likely shot.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News