Quezon City barangay executive gunned down over land dispute

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay official was killed by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in front of the barangay hall right after the Monday flag-raising ceremony in Quezon City, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano Jr., deputy chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said Gil Corpuz, 50, area monitoring officer, was repeatedly shot by the helmeted suspects using handguns.

Corpuz died on arrival at the Fairview General Hospital.

Elenzano said there are strong indications the killing was not directly related to Corpuz’s work as a barangay official.

He said although witnesses have not given their formal statements to the police, they have a strong reason to believe that the killing has something to do with an ongoing but disputed lot distribution scheme among prospective beneficiaries of government lots, all informal settlers.

Corpuz was also president of the Sanapa Federation of Homeowners Association in Barangay Commonwealth at the time he was killed, STAR sources said.

Investigators said they have gathered that some disgruntled individuals have opposed a move by Corpuz for an equal distribution of the lots to the beneficiaries.

Police said some settlers who earlier occupied lots bigger than the lot size pushed by Corpuz, reportedly at 50 square meters, resented the new proposal.

Those with bigger lots claimed this was an unfair arrangement and vowed to fight the scheme.Police officers are still investigating the incident and have yet to confirm their initial findings.