Cebu Political Killing: Barangay Chairman Shot Dead in Feud, Bodyguard Wounded, Gunmen Flee

Cebu, Philippines— A local barangay chairman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in a feud in Cebu province on October 20, leaving one bodyguard wounded after the attackers opened fire near the village hall.

The shooting occurred at around 9 a.m. in a barangay in the town of San Fernando, south of Cebu City. The chairman, aged 52, was arriving for a meeting with constituents. Two men on a motorcycle approached and fired. The chairman was hit multiple times in the chest and head. His bodyguard, a former policeman, returned fire but was hit in the leg. The gunmen fled toward the highway.

Police said the attack is linked to a long-running family feud over land and political control of the barangay. The chairman had been in office for two terms and was known for backing a rival clan in a land dispute. He had received death threats in recent weeks, according to his family. A police report was filed last month after shots were fired at his house, but no suspects were arrested.

Cebu province has seen a rise in political killings ahead of next year's barangay elections. Barangay chairmen control local budgets, permits, and influence over voters. Feuds over these positions often turn violent. The Commission on Elections said it is monitoring hotspots, but security is thin in rural areas. One election officer said, "Barangay politics is personal. It is family against family."

The wounded bodyguard was taken to Carcar District Hospital. He is in stable condition. Police recovered 15 spent casings from .45-caliber pistols at the scene. Checkpoints were set up across southern Cebu. A manhunt is underway for the gunmen. No group has claimed responsibility. Police said they have identified persons of interest from the rival family.

Residents in the barangay said they fear retaliation. Schools closed early. Shops shut. A resident said the chairman was popular for building a basketball court and fixing roads, but also had enemies. "He helped many, but politics here is dangerous," the resident said. The Department of Interior and Local Government said it will provide security to the victim's family.

The chairman's body was taken to a funeral home in San Fernando. His family said burial will be after an autopsy. The bodyguard remains under police guard in hospital. The investigation continues.