Photo credit: Magsasaka Partylist

What Really Happened to Lejun Dela Cruz?

The Magsasaka Partylist has raised alarm bells over what they describe as a “failed police assassination attempt” on their nominee, Lejun Dela Cruz. According to their statement, Dela Cruz was ambushed, shot at, beaten, and abducted by plainclothes police officers in what they claim was a politically motivated attack.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, tells a different story—one that involves a decades-old murder case, a high-speed chase, and a dramatic escape attempt that allegedly left an officer with a fractured pelvis.

So, what’s the real deal? Let’s break it down.

Magsasaka Partylist’s Version: A Violent Ambush

The partylist claims that on the morning of February 2, Dela Cruz was on his way home in Cainta, Rizal, when an unidentified man approached him about real estate. Growing suspicious, he noticed two armed men on motorcycles nearby. Sensing danger, he tried to leave—only to have bullets rain down on his vehicle.

Dela Cruz reportedly sped off but was cornered in Pasig City. That’s when the armed men, later revealed to be police officers in civilian clothing, forcefully arrested him. He was allegedly beaten, handcuffed, and left on the street while the officers debated whether to “turn him over or kill him on the spot.”

Magsasaka Partylist’s legal counsel, Atty. General Du, insists that only after the chaos did police present an arrest warrant—one dating back to 1992.

To make matters worse, when partylist representatives arrived at the police station, they claim officers pointed guns at them, preventing them from assisting Dela Cruz.

“This isn’t just an attack on Lejun Dela Cruz,” the group said in their statement. “This is an attack on democracy.”

PNP’s Response: “There Was No Assassination Attempt”

The PNP, however, is refuting every bit of the partylist’s version of events. In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo dismissed claims of abduction and assassination, stating that the operation was a legal arrest based on a long-standing warrant for murder.

According to Fajardo, officers moved to arrest Dela Cruz—identified as a former commander of the Alex Boncayao Brigade, an urban assassination unit of the New People’s Army (NPA). But instead of cooperating, she says, Dela Cruz fled, triggering a chase that ended in Pasig.

Fajardo also claims that Dela Cruz rammed four vehicles and a motorcycle during the escape, injuring a police officer who is now confined with a fractured pelvis.

“On the contrary, siya pa ang nanutok ng baril at nanagasa ng pulis,” she stated.

Why Were the Police in Civilian Clothes?

One of the biggest points of contention is why the arresting officers weren’t in uniform. Fajardo explained that this was a “discreet operation” to prevent Dela Cruz from evading arrest.

She also clarified that uniformed officers were present as backup and that police properly identified themselves before taking him into custody.

What Happens Next?

Dela Cruz is now being held at the Eastern Police District’s detention facility in Marikina City. On top of the murder case, the PNP is filing additional charges, including violations of the election gun ban, malicious mischief, and illegal possession of firearms.

With both sides sticking to their own versions of events, one thing is clear—this case is far from over. Magsasaka Partylist is demanding accountability, while the PNP is doubling down on its defense.

So, was this an assassination attempt or a legitimate police operation gone wrong? That’s the million-peso question.