Alleged links to drugs eyed as motive: Ex-barangay chief shot dead

CEBU, Philippines — The former barangay captain of Lagtang in Talisay City was shot dead inside the house he was renting in Sibonga town last Sunday night.

Marc Ferdinand Bas, 42, allegedly had links to the illegal drug trade.

Sibonga Police Station chief Stephen Amamag-id said it was around 11 p.m. on Sunday when the caretaker of the house Bas was staying at noticed about nine men at the area.

Based on the caretaker’s account, three men were reportedly inside the compound, four were positioned outside the gate, and the rest others forced their way into the house.

The suspects allegedly barged their way into the house using a gasoline tank.

Amamag-id said it is possible that Bas was on the first floor when the suspects entered and went to the second floor to hide. However, the suspects also broke into his room in the second floor and, there, shot Bas multiple times.

“Gisulod ang biktima sa giabangan nga balay, giguba ang pultahan gamit ang LPG tank… naa ang biktima sa silong niya pagkabantay niya nidagan siya sa taas nanirado, pero ang mga suspetsado giguba gihapon ang pultahan unya didto na siya gipusil patay,” Amamag-id said.

It was only yesterday morning when the police found Bas’ body.

Police said the caretaker rushed out of the compound as the suspects left the crime scene at past midnight.

The caretaker then called Bas’ live-in partner who reportedly visits the victim at the house every Saturday.

“After nakabantay ang caretaker nga ang sakyanan nipadagan, diha na nidagan and ni-contact sa kapuyo,” Amamag-id said.

He said the Sibonga police received a shooting alarm at around 1 a.m. but could not trace the source of the gunshots.

“Mga 1 a.m. gitawagan sa cell number ang usa sa atong mga pulis nga naa buto-buto ana nga lugar… ni-responde pero pag-abot, mingaw wala’y commotion, wala’y taw mapangutana, gisuway tawag ang barangay captain, pero wala mutubag and mipull-out,” he said.

The caretaker and Bas’ live-in partner reportedly went to the house at around 6 a.m.

Bas’ family would have wanted to have Bas’ body retrieved by the funeral homes but the funeral homes advised them to report the incident to the police first.

Bas’ cousin and sister-in-law then went to the police station at 6:45 a.m.

Investigators said the assailants forced their way in because the door knobs were dislodged. They also recovered 15 empty shells from an unidentified firearm.

Amamag-id said they are looking into politics, personal grudge, and Bas’ involvement in illegal drugs as possible motives of the killing.

Police Regional Office Director Debold Sinas said they will field the Special Investigation Task Force if there is a need to do so.

Like Amamag-id, Sinas said they were not aware that Bas had already transferred to Sibonga because they were monitoring him in Talisay.

“Natingala mi ngano didto siya nagtago karon ra namo nahibaw-an, amoa tan-aw ani basin naa siya gitaguan, kay basin naa siya kaaway sa drugas. We are studying the approache nga basin sila-sila lang ang nag-away,” Sinas said.

According to the caretaker of the house, Bas reportedly started living at the house starting the last week of July, about the same time his son, Art Stephen, 23, a councilman of Barangay Lagtang, was gunned down inside his house at the South Road Properties. (FREEMAN)