PNP: Premature to tag Bukidnon shooting incident as election-related

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is too early to say that the shooting incident that marred the visit of presidential candidate Leody de Guzman to Quezon municipality in Bukidnon is election-related.

In a statement, the PNP said it is conducting a deeper investigation into the shooting incident, which took place while de Guzman was having a meeting with a group of indigenous people.

"It is  premature to say that the motive is election-related since we are still gathering enough evidence and determining the circumstances surrounding the incident," the PNP said.

The police said details of the incident remain sketchy as initial investigation showed that no proper coordination with authorities was made regarding the visit to the concerned property that has a standing court case.

In line with this, the PNP reminded candidates and the public to coordinate with the police so they can provide security assistance to prevent such incidents.

“Hindi naman pinagbabawal ang area security lalo na sa identified high-risk zone [Area security is not prohibited in areas identified as high-risk zone]. What the election code prohibits is the employment of body guards without the Certificate of Authority,” the PNP said.

According to the PNP, the police do not have anyone in the area to ask about the incident to get vital information for the filing of appropriate charges.

“Nevertheless, the PNP vows to continue with the investigation to find out what really happened at mananagot ang dapat managot,” it said.

The PNP said one person sustained a gunshot wound on the right foot.

“The patient is now undergoing treatment and police investigators are exerting effort to obtain a statement from the patient,” it said.

In an ANC interview, senatorial candidate David D’Angelo, who was present during the shooting incident, said that four of the injured individuals are now okay while one needed to undergo a shoulder operation.

“Okay naman sila. Si Nanie Abela lang ay kailangan sumailalim sa operasyon kasi ‘yung bala ay kailangan tanggalin sa kanyang balikat. Pero the rest naman ay, I think, okay. In fact, ‘yung datu na tinamaan ng apat [na bala] ng baril, medyo jolly pa nga siya, sabi niya hindi siya tinatablan ng bala pero I think coping mechanism na lang 'yun ng ating kasamang katutubo,” he said.

(They are okay. Only Nanie Abela had to undergo surgery because the bullet had to be removed from his shoulder. I think the rest is okay. In fact, the datu who was hit by four bullets was even jolly, saying the bullets have no effect on him, but I think that’s just their coping mechanism.)

Abela has returned to the hospital for the surgery to remove the bullet from his soldier.

Asked if they have already determined who was behind the incident, D’Angelo said it still needs to be investigated. He added the police have already visited the injured and asked for their statements.

De Guzman on Tuesday pointed out that the first shot hit the person who was only a foot away from him, but he could not confirm yet if he was the target of the shooting.

Meanwhile, senatorial bet Luke Espiritu also condemned the shooting incident, stressing that the Manobo-Pulanguihon just wanted to reclaim their ancestral domain that was allegedly land grabbed by a corporation identified with a local official.

“Ipinanawagan natin na tigilan na ang pananamantala sa mga katutubo. Ipinanawagan natin na walang espasyo ang mga land grabbers sa ancestral domains ng mga katutubo! Katutubo naman,” he said.

(We call for an end to the exploitation of the indigenous peoples. Land grabbers have no space in the IPs’ ancestral domains.)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is also looking into the incident.—Joviland Rita and Giselle Ombay/KBK/AOL, GMA News