The Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have been asked to investigate the reported election-related violence in Maragondon, Cavite last Saturday night, May 7.
The alleged violence was reportedly perpetrated by the camp of Lawrence “Umbe” Arca, candidate for mayor of Maragondon.
Witnesses, who will be presented to the DOJ, PNP and Comelec with the filing of the formal complaint, stated that last Saturday night, the group of Noel A. Rillo, also a candidate for mayor, passed by the house of Barangay Chairman Eric Acosta.
They said they noticed that a vehicle with blinkers was parked in front of Acosta’s house in Barangay Bucal 3.
They said that Rillo and his group decided to alight from their vehicle to find out if Acosta has some concerns. Acosta met Rillo’s group outside his house and said he (Acosta) was also wondering who owns the vehicle and who were onboard.
At that point, witnesses said that Arca and his body identified as Roel Bidbid alighted from the parked vehicle.
They said that another Arca’s bodyguard, identified as Rodrigo Tanagras, shouted at Rillo’s group: “Ano ba and ipinagmamalaki nyo, ano ba ang gusto nyo mangyari (What are you bragging about, what do you like to happen).”
“Wala naman po, kami ay nag-uusap usap lang dito (Nothing. We were just talking here,” a member of Rillo’s camp replied.
The witnesses said that Arca shouted: “Tirahin mo na yan (Hit him).”
They said that Tanagras followed Arca’s command, got an Armalite rifle from the parked vehicle, and pointed it to Rillo and Dr. Efren A. Rillo (Rillo’s brother). Candidate Rillo was able to parry the firearm which fell on the ground, they said.
Immediately, Arca’s group fled, they added. Efforts to contact Arca for his comment proved futile.
DOJ records showed that Arca has been charged in the 2018 killing of Trece Martires City Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan. Arca was later on pinpointed as the alleged mastermind in Lubigan’s killing.
Lubigan and his aide, Romulo Guillemer, were killed along the Trece Martires-Indang Road in Cavite on July 8, 2018.