Ex-EDSA Traffic Enforcer Gunned Down in Cavite; Neighbors Cite Suspicious Activity Before Shooting

GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite — A former EDSA traffic enforcer was shot dead outside his home early Sunday morning, following reports from neighbors of suspicious activity in the hours leading up to the attack.

The victim, identified as Hervin Cabanban, formerly assigned to the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT), was killed around 2 a.m. in Barangay San Juan II, General Trias.

According to witnesses, a white van had been seen circling the area late Saturday night. Some residents reported unfamiliar individuals loitering near Cabanban’s residence and said they had a sense something was amiss before the gunfire erupted.

“There was a vehicle roaming while some people were drinking nearby. They noticed something strange around 11 or 12. Then, around 2 a.m., we heard two gunshots,” a relative of the victim told reporters.

Cabanban was found with gunshot wounds outside his house. His family claims he had no known enemies but noted he had recently stopped parking his motorcycle outside and that they once found unexplained footprints at their front door.

“Maybe he was avoiding someone,” a family member said.

The Department of Transportation condemned the killing and said it is coordinating closely with police. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon vowed swift justice, saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered law enforcement agencies to prioritize the investigation.

“We will find those behind this crime and bring them to justice,” Dizon said in a statement.

Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said investigators are exploring all possible motives, including links to Cabanban’s work with SAICT, a task force that has been involved in operations targeting illegal drugs and transport syndicates.

The incident adds to a growing list of targeted killings involving government agents since 2023.

As of press time, authorities have yet to identify the suspects or determine a clear motive.