A barangay chairman died after he was shot dead by men armed with rifles in Barangay Lacquios, Arayat, Pampanga.
The shooting took place outside the Barangay Hall.
Closed circuit television (CCTV) footage shows a black vehicle stopping in front of the Barangay Hall around 8 p.m. on August 11, 2024.
Three armed men disembarked and began firing at the barangay hall. Lumbang's alleged bodyguards attempted to return fire, but the suspects managed to escape swiftly.
"Aalamin din natin iyan kung ma-identify ‘yung mga nakita natin sa footage na tatlong armadong lalaki na pumutok din po," PCOL Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, said.
"Kailangan nating malaman, at kailangan din po nating makuha, ang mga baril na kanilang ginamit; at tingnan natin kung sila ba ay awtorisado, [kung] may permit to own, use, possess firearms, as well as permit to carry firearms outside their residence," Fajardo added.
Authorities are looking at politics as a possible motive in the shooting. Lumbang reportedly had plans of running for vice mayor.
“Hindi natin dini-discount ‘yung possibility na itong pagpatay sa kanya ay may kinalaman sa kanyang trabaho bilang barangay captain," Fajardo said.
"‘Yung dati niyang background inaalam na din natin; at syempre, kung ito ba ay may kinalaman sa usap-usapan na may planong tumakbo sa darating na election sa 2025 bilang vice mayor — itong si Barangay Captain Lumbang," Fajardo added.
A resident in the barangay said politics can get too intense during elections.
"Dito po, ang pulitika parang mabigat po tuwing sasapit ang election period — ganyan po ang nangyayari sa bayan namin," the resident said.
The police are currently pursuing the suspects and have formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Lumbang to focus on the case.
According to his family, Lumbang survived two attempts on his life in 1999 and 2001.
His son, barangay councilman Ivan Lumbang, said it’s not only his family that is grieving.
"Hindi lang ako, anak, tsaka mommy ko [na] nagdadalamhati ngayon, kundi buong barangay," Ivan Lumbang said.
