By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to start on Friday its preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint filed against Trece Martires City Mayor Melandres De Sagun over his alleged involvement in the death of Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan and his driver.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon has already issued subpoenas to De Sagun and his co-respondents to appear this Friday and submit their counter-affidavits against the complaint.
“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to appear on said scheduled date shall considered a waiver on your part to present your counter-affidavit and evidence, in which case, the complaint shall be deemed submitted for resolution based on evidence on record,” read the subpoena.
The Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO) filed before the DOJ last Sept. 13 the complaint against De Sagun and four other respondents.
The other respondents are identified as Maragondon Municipal Councilor Lawrence “Umbe” Arca, Luis Vasquez Abad Jr., Ariel Fletchetro Paiton, and Rhonel Bersamina.
Under the complaint, the respondents are accused of murder and frustrated murder over the ambush of Lubigan which also took place in Trece Martires, Cavite.
Lubigan was aboard his black Toyota Hi-Lux when he got ambushed on the afternoon of July 7 in front of the the Korean-Philippines Friendship Hospital.
Aside from Lubigan, his driver Romulo Guillemer died from the ambush.
Also hurt from the incident is Lubigan’s security aide Romeo Edrinal.