Balamban Councilor Tagged as Alleged Mastermind in Shooting of Fellow Official
A barangay councilor in Balamban, Cebu, identified as Carlo Ripdos Maunes alias “Kokong,” has been arrested and tagged as the alleged mastermind behind the shooting of a fellow village official on February 19. The victim, Renato Pacquiao Tribunalo, 54, a councilor from the same Barangay Luca, survived after being shot inside his home. The arrest stems from an intensive police investigation into the politically-charged incident.
Carlo Ripdos Maunes, alias "Kokong," a 39-year-old barangay councilor from Barangay Luca in Balamban, Cebu, was arrested on March 28, 2026, as the alleged mastermind behind the shooting of fellow councilor Renato Pacquiao Tribunalo, also known as "Boy." The incident occurred on February 19, 2026, around 4 p.m. when Tribunalo, a 54-year-old resident of the same barangay, was shot once in the right chest inside his home. The gunman fled on a red motorcycle driven by an accomplice, and Tribunalo survived after being rushed to Cebu Provincial Hospital–Balamban, where he remains in stable condition.
The investigation progressed rapidly when police arrested the gunman and motorcycle operator on February 22, 2026. Both suspects provided sworn testimonies implicating Maunes as the planner of the attack. Based on these confessions and gathered evidence, authorities obtained a search warrant from the Toledo City court on March 27, which was executed at Maunes's residence in Barangay Luca on March 28 at 3:10 p.m. During the search, police recovered a .45 caliber handgun with four live rounds and a hand grenade. The firearm awaits ballistic testing to determine if it was used in the shooting, while explosives experts secured the grenade.
As of March 30, 2026, Maunes is detained at the Balamban Municipal Police Station, with charges being prepared for multiple violations. These include Republic Act 9168 (illegal possession of firearms), Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives), and his alleged role as mastermind in the shooting incident. The investigation continues with police gathering additional testimonial and forensic evidence to strengthen the case against Maunes.
While no specific motive has been officially confirmed in the reports, police are exploring possibilities including personal conflicts between the two councilors. Official statements from law enforcement confirm Maunes as the suspected mastermind based on the confessions of the arrested gunman and accomplice, along with physical evidence recovered during the search. The case remains under active investigation by Balamban police and Scene of Crime Operations teams as they work to establish the complete circumstances surrounding this politically-charged incident within the local barangay council.
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