POLICEMEN yesterday cordoned off the residence of re-electionist Pilar, Abra Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono after her bodyguards, who earlier opened fire at policemen manning a checkpoint, fled to her house.
The Cordillera Administrative Region police office said Pilar and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) operatives flagged down a Toyota Hiace van at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion at around 10:30 a.m.
Regional police spokesman Capt. Marnie Abellanida said instead of stopping, the van sped off, in the process hitting two policemen, and its occupants later opened fire at pursuing policemen.
“Instead of cooperating with our authorities, they disregarded the checkpoint and sped off.
In fact, two of our policemen were bumped but they (two policemen) are okay,” said Abellanida.
“While escaping, they even opened fire at our policemen, hitting one of the vehicles of our personnel. While being pursued, it (van) entered the compound or (is) inside the residence of the vice mayor,” added Abellanida.
PNP public affairs office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said: “A stand-off is ongoing at the house of Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono in Pilar, Abra where armed men sought refuge after running through a police checkpoint injuring two policemen and shooting at a police patrol car that gave chase.”
In a statement issued at around 6:30 p.m. last night, Alba said policemen were at the residence of the Disono “negotiating for a peaceful surrender of the driver of Toyota Hiace van who deliberately run through a police checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion at 10:30 am.
“Field reports are still sketchy at the moment, but we expect to obtain more detailed information from (Lee) who is now on his way to the area to personally assess the situation,” Alba said.
Disono said she was aboard another vehicle during the incident, adding her vehicle stopped at the checkpoint and was allowed to pass moments later.
Disono said her bodyguards onboard another vehicle following her vehicle were asked to alight. Instead of complying, Disono said her men followed her car and the policemen opened fire. She claimed one of her men was killed in the incident.
Abellanida said he has no official report about the purported death of one of Disono’s security personnel but said he saw posts on social media about it.
Disono is seeking re-election as vice mayor of the town under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. She is running against Samson Laguesma of the Nacionalista Party.
In a statement, the regional police office said policemen were not out to harass the camp of Disono.
“Just to set the record right, there is no harassment but a legitimate hot-pursuit operation. For reiteration, there is no harassment but what is happening now in Pilar, Abra is a legitimate hot-pursuit operation,” it said.
“As of the press time, police officers have cordoned off the area where the said Toyota Hiace which ignored the checkpoint has fled,” it added.
Abellanida said regional police director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee was on the way to the residence of Disono yesterday afternoon for a dialog with the vice mayor.
