Politics, land dispute considered motives in village chief ambush

The family of slain Agus barangay captain Jovencio Lauron said politics was  behind the ambush Sunday morning in Clarin town, Bohol.

Lauron’s family confirmed that he had received  death threats before his  murder.

P03 Roderick Maglangit, investigator of the Clarin Police Station, said he spoke with Lauron’s daughter, lawyer  Bembem Lauron, who expressed the family’s belief her father was killed because of politics.

Maglangit said the lawyer said her father had no personal enemies, leading the family to conclude that his death was politically motivated.

Maglangit said the daughter admitted her father confided to the family that he was receiving threats and was warned to be extra careful.

Meanwhile, Supt. Paul Labra II, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID), said they are  looking into politics and a land dispute in the family as  possible motives behind Lauron’s death.

RID is assisting the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office in investigating the ambush.

Maglangit said Lauron may have thought that hired guns would not follow him to Bohol.

READ: Lapu village chief slain in ambush

The investigator said the motorcycle-riding gunmen who killed Lauron appeared to be  hired killers who  followed Lauron from Clarin port.

Lauron’s group arrived in Clarin in a family-owned boat before 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Some witnesses noticed the two motorcycles at the port before  the killing.

The four assailants were  wearing helmets and face masks.

Lauron, his family and relatives hired five tricycles to bring them to Sagbayan town  to attend the annual fiesta and to be present for  the 40th day novena of Lauron’s deceased sibling.
Lauron sat in between the tricycle driver Rogelio Bicio and another passenger.

Bricio slowed down upon seeing a motorcycle parked a few meters ahead of them. The assailants on a blue XRM motorcycle fired two shots at the barangay captain.  He reportedly tried to hide behind the tricycle but two men on another motorcycle shot him several times that resulted in his death.

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