Barely two years ago, on January 7, 2019, Libungan Mayor Christopher “Amping” Cuan was inside town hall here around 1:45 p.m. when an unidentified gunman opened fire and missed, according to the police’ account of the incident.
But on Monday, the 46-year-old mayor was not as lucky. He was inspecting a cockfighting arena still under construction near his home in Barangay Cabaruyan when another attacker shot him and his driver Edwin Navarro Ihao, 36. Both died on the spot.
Cuan’s name had been on President Duterte’s list of drug suspects in 2016, but he had vehemently denied he was involved in illegal drugs and sought out the help of the then Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Gen. Ronaldo Dela Rosa in Camp Crame to clear his name.
Cuan followed the long list of mayors and politicians in the President’s drug watchlist who were later killed by unidentified gunmen. On July 10 last year, Mayor Pablo Matinong of Sto Niño town of South Cotabato was also killed. Matinong, who was also on the President’s list, repeatedly denied he was involved in the illegal drug trade.