Village chief shot dead in Pampanga

The slain Laquios, Arayat village chief Norberto Lumbang. (Facebook photo)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — The barangay captain of Laquios in Arayat town in this province was killed by a rifle-wielding man inside the village hall on Sunday night, Aug. 11.

A police report obtained by the Inquirer showed that Norberto Lumbang, widely known in Arayat as Mel Lumbang, 57, was inside the village hall around 8:30 p.m. when a man carrying a long firearm shot the village chief several times in different parts of his body.

Lumbang, who was planning to run for vice mayor next year, died on the spot.

The gunman was among the four men on board a black Toyota Innova bearing plate number NAU 2713 who stopped in front of the village hall.

Investigators said that three men alighted from the vehicle. One of them went inside the village hall and shot the victim.

The suspect fled on board the same vehicle.

READ: Pampanga village chief, driver killed in ambush

Arayat police issued a flash alarm against the suspects more than 30 minutes after the crime but failed to locate and arrest them.

A source said the Police Regional Office 3 ordered an investigation into the killing of Lumbang and to identify and arrest the assailant and his cohorts.

In his Facebook post on Monday, Arayat Councilor Ronald Venasquez expressed his grief over Lumbang’s murder.

Venasquez and Lumbang were planning to run for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, as teammates in the 2025 local elections.

Lumbang’s family, relatives, and supporters are demanding justice for the slain village chief. INQ

Photo Caption:
The slain Laquios, Arayat village chief Norberto Lumbang. (Facebook photo)