Balamban mayor: No need to put town in ‘Areas of Concern’ for coming polls

Town's chief executive said this amid the October 5 killing of a barangay councilor by a motorcycle-riding-gunman

Map of Balamban, Cebu | CDN Digital

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The mayor of Balamban town in western Cebu believes that the killing last October 5 of a barangay councilor, who was running for barangay captain in the coming election, was not politically motivated.

Mayor Alex Binghay said that for this reason, the Commission on Election (Comelec) should not put the town in the list of “Areas of Concern” for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30, 2023.

READ: Balamban shooting: Police after riding in tandem behind killing of barangay councilor

Balamban killing of councilor: Unfortunate incident

 “Its an unfortunate incident no kay kadtong namatay intawon, is an ally, including the incumbent. Pulos na nato sila kauban. It just so happened nga nidagan unya last term. But all of them, who were running as barangay captains, suod ra,” Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay said.

(It is an unfortunate incident because the one who died is an ally, including the incumbent (barangay captain). They are all our allies. It just so happened that the incumbent is running for his last term. But all of them, who were running as barangay captains, are really close to me.)

READ: Cebu City remains peaceful and orderly despite recent shooting incidents, says police

Killing of barangay councilor

Binghay was referring to the killing of Anastacio Pacquiao, 60 years old, an incumbent barangay councilor of Barangay Cansamoroy, who was running for barangay captain in that barangay.

Pacquiao was driving a motorcycle along the national highway of Barangay Prenza, Balamban when he was shot by a gunman, who was a backrider of another motorcycle driven by the gunman’s cohort.

READ: Ex-convict shot dead in Mambaling, police after person of interest

Suspects identified, pursued

The police have already identified the suspects, who are described as guns-for-hire, have an outstanding arrest warrant of arrest, and were believed to be residing nearby.

Mayor Binghay again said that there was no need to place the town under “Areas of Concern” for the coming election.

“Wala man seguro kay sa akong gikasulti ganiha, puro rana sila suod. It just so happen nga duol sa election ang nahitabo,” Binghay said.

READ: Comelec places 242 barangays under ‘red category’ for 2023 BSKE

No political tension in Balamban

(There is no (political tension here) because from what I said earlier, all of them here are close friends. It just so happened (that the killing of the barangay councilor) was near the holding of the election.)

The mayor also said that he was entrusting the investigation of the shooting death of Councilor Pacquiao to the police.

Balamban town is a first class municipality of Cebu Province which is located 52.8 kilometers west of Cebu City.