Ex-village chief linked to drugs found dead in Cebu

CEBU CITY — Less than three months after his son was killed in an ambush, a former village chief who was linked to illegal drugs was found dead inside a rented house in Sitio Dumlog, Barangay Simala, Sibonga town, Cebu.

His live-in partner found Mark Ferdinand Bas dead in the house that he had been renting for three months now about 6 a.m. on Monday.

A caretaker of the residential compound said at least three unidentified men went to the victim’s home past 11 p.m. on Oct. 7. She then heard bursts of gunfire about an hour later.

Bas, who was out on bail for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, was one of three incumbent and former village officials that the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency linked to illegal drugs.

His death came less than three months after his son, Art Stephen, 23, was gunned down in an ambush along the Cebu South Coastal Road in Cebu City last July.

There were reports that the killing of Art was a case of mistaken identity since the young man, who was just then elected as barangay councilor of Langtang, was driving a heavily tinted vehicle that used to be driven by his father.

After the ambush, the assailant opened the door of the driver’s side to check on the victim before speeding off.