Barangay official shot dead by LCM in ZamboSur

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (April 26, 2017) - At about 10:30 PM on April 22, 2017, Hon. Rico A. Dumagal, ABC president of San Miguel Municipality Personally appeared at San Miguel MPS and reported that a shooting incident has transpired at Barangay Dumalian, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur.

PRO9 Information Officer PSupt. Rogelio C. Alabata disclosed that according to the investigation conducted by San Miguel MPS revealed that the incident was transpired at about 9:00 pm of April 22, 2017 at Purok 1, Barangay Dumalian, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur wherein the victim identified as Hon. Rodrigo Mesperos Matchuca, Barangay Chairman of said barangay, 60 years old, married and a resident of same place was shot to death by members of local communist movement (LCM) later identified as Dexter Gualdahara Lihop Aka Dave-Dave, 19 years old, single a resident of Sitio Dagum; Zacarias Dag-Uman Robledo, 21 years old, single, a resident of Sitio Palas, All Of Tiguha, Lapuyan, Zamboanga Del Sur and two (2) unidentified suspects using a caliber .45 pistol based on the recovered fired cartridge at the crime scene.

PSupt. Alabata said that the place of incident has an estimated distance of twelve (12) kilometers from police station and located at the remote area of this municipality. That the road condition was rough and muddy and not accessible by any means of land transportation during the time due to heavy rain. The crime scene post a threat for it is local communist movement (LCM) infested area.

The mps coordinated with 1Lt Justine Michael C. Rabino, co, Bravo Coy, 53rd IB PA to proceed to the place of incident but the later advised to coordinate with Sgt Nasser, Team Leader of AFP/CAFGU detachment of Barangay Dumalian and likewise advised to go by morning on the following day April 23, 2017 for security of the responding government troops.

On April 23, 2017 at about 5:30 am, a team from the 2nd MP 2MC RPSB9 led by PInsp. Arnold Tabunan Tolentino, platoon leader under direct supervision of PCInsp. Jerome Tajor Pamalaran, Company Commander joint with San Miguel Police Station led by PInsp Bernard Talitayan proceeded to the place of incident purposely to conduct ocular inspection and investigation.

Investigation further disclosed that the victim Hon. Rodrigo Matchuca together his companion identified as Danny Boy Balolong had a drinking spree at the store owned by Rommel Matchuca Vergas when suddenly the suspects appeared and without any apparent reason shot the victim hitting on the different parts of his body that resulted to his untimely death. The victim Hon. Rodrigo Matchuca and his companion Danny Boy Balolong was able to retaliate and shot and able to hit one of the suspects named Dexter Gualdahara Lihop hitting on his neck that resulted to his instantaneous death while the other suspects fled away to unknown direction after the incident. Accordingly, the caliber .45 pistols that was used by Dexter Gualdahara Lihop in the commission of the crime was picked-up by one of the suspects prior to their withdrawal.

PSupt. Alabata further said that the victim Hon. Rodrigo Matchuca is a rebel returnee prior he became an elected barangay official of Dumalian, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur and accordingly, motive of the incident revealed that the victim is allegedly withdrawing support and sympathy to the lcm and that he strongly support the establishment of military and CAFGU detachment in the said barangay during his incumbency as barangay chairman.

Moreover, the victim was long time being threatened by the LCM to be liquidated as revealed by the later to his friends, relatives and to the military/police authorities, PSupt. Alabata added.

Recovered from the dead body of Dexter Gualdahara Lihop were two (2) pieces magazine of caliber .45 pistol loaded with ten (10) rounds of ammunitions which was placed inside his pocket, an improvised pistol belt and from the crime scene were seven (7) pieces fired cartridges of caliber .45 pistol.

The post mortem examination was conducted by the crime laboratory of Zamboanga Del Sur Police Provincial Office. San Miguel MPS is now in the process of preparing a case against the suspects.