ALTHOUGH authorities are still conducting an investigation, PNP chief Dionardo Carlos yesterday said the shooting incident involving presidential candidate Leody de Guzman in Bukidnon last Tuesday was not related to the May 9 elections.
“Does this have a connection with the presence of the presidential aspirant? None. We are not seeking a connection,” Carlos told the Laging Handa public briefing.
Vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, condemned the attack and asked the Commission on Elections to thoroughly look into the incident.
Duterte-Carpio, in an interview in Batangas City, said she had sent a letter to the Comelec asking the agency to open an official inquiry into any allegation or incidence of violence or fraud.
“Of course, all election violence and allegations of fraud, we condemn that. We already wrote the Comelec a general letter that if there is any allegation or incident, all of that she be opened with an official inquiry,” she said.
Initial police investigation showed De Guzman met on Tuesday with a group of indigenous people claiming part of a pineapple plantation in Barangay Butong Quezon, Bukidnon for a dialogue.
PNP spokeswoman col. Jean Fajardo said the group later entered the plantation, prompting a security guard to fire warning shots. Succeeding shots unfortunately injured Charita del Socorro, 42.
Earlier reports said four others — Nanie Abela, Datu Didilusan Arroyo, Orlando Lingaolingao, and Eger Dabatian — sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to a hospital.
De Guzman and senatorial candidates David D’Angelo and Roy Cabonegro, who were in the lead group of marchers, were not hurt.
Fajardo said the land dispute case is pending before a court, adding local officials are exerting efforts to settle the dispute.
She said there had been a similar attempt by indigenous people to occupy the plantation in the past.
“It just so happened that he (De Guzman) was there. Is he the target? No. Is this election-related incident? We are not seeing any indicator or indication that would say that this is connected with the election,” Carlos said, adding: “Those who went there, they are concerned with a property that is under contest. That is the report that was given to me.”
Carlos nevertheless said the PNP will continue to look into the shooting, which he described as an “isolated” incident.
“Initial investigation showed the guard fired shots on the group of people, these are the petitioners (in the land dispute case) who wanted to enter the area. He was not able to control himself and fired warning shots. Unfortunately, someone was hit,” said Carlos.
PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said the PNP will “continue with the investigation to find out what really happened and hold accountable those who should be held accountable.”
“We would like to remind our candidates and the public at large that coordination is important so that the PNP can provide assistance to avoid any violent incidents,” said Alba.
POLL-RELATED VIOLENCE
Only five out of 28 initially reported election-related violent incidents nationwide have been validated to be related to the May 9 polls, according to the PNP.
Fajardo said the number of the validated incidents was low compared to the 2016 and 2019 elections with 133 and 33 validated ERVIs, respectively.
“From January 9 to April 18, a total of 28-election related incidents were reported. However, out of the 28 incidents, 21 were validated to be non-election related,” said Fajardo.
The election period started last January 9 and will end on June 8. The campaign period for national and local candidates started on February 8 and March 25, respectively.
“Five (of the 28 reported incidents) were validated to be election-related incidents,” Fajardo said, adding the remaining two are still subject to be validation process.
Fajardo said two of the validated ERVIs are shooting incidents and the three others were cases of grave threat, physical injury, and harassment. He said these cases were already referred to concerned prosecutor’s offices.
Fajardo said the five incidents occurred in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Zamboana Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Fajardo said the PNP has reached out to the candidates to sign peace covenants and allow the will of the people to prevail during the elections.
The PNP also said a total of 2,670 persons have been arrested from January 9 to April 19 for violation of the election gun ban. Those arrested included 17 soldiers and 16 policemen.
It said 2,019 assorted firearms; and 989 explosives and bladed weapons were also seized in 2,549 operations conducted during the gun ban period. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
