De Guzman to press charges against those behind Bukidnon shooting

Presidential candidate Leody De Guzman on Wednesday said he will be pressing charges against those behind a shooting incident in Quezon, Bukidnon that injured several people near him.

In Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” the labor leader claimed that military personnel within the vicinity did nothing.

“Nandoon ‘yung sundalo sa highway. Wala pang kalahating kilometro ang layo, mga 300 meters lang yata. Dinig na dinig ‘yung putok pero hindi naman sumugod. Kaya tingin ko may sabwatan,” he said.

(The soldiers were on the highway. They were less than half a kilometer away, maybe even 300 meters. The gunshots were loud but they did not come over. So, I think there's collusion.)

He also accused Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III of being behind the shooting incident.

De Guzman, along with two senatorial aspirants, were in the province to discuss with the Manobo-Pulangiyon community a matter of alleged land grabbing.

The IPs were allegedly forced to leave their ancestral domain and are homeless. The document provided by the tribe stated that the land was given to them in July 1998.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dionardo Carlos said “it’s premature to say” that the shooting incident is election-related.

“Sa initial na imbestigasyon, yung gwardya po ‘yung nagpaputok dahil may group of people na gustong pumasok sa isang lugar at hindi niya napigilan, nag-warning siya, unfortunately may tinamaan. Wala pa po kaming indicator o indication that would say that this is connected with the election,” Carlos said.

(During the initial investigation, the guard fired because there was a group of people who wanted to enter a place and he could not stop them. He fired a warning shot, unfortunately someone was hit. We do not yet have an indicator or indication that would say that this is connected with the election.)

Other candidates: probe the incident

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez stressed that there can never be a justification for firing at peaceful and unarmed civilians.

Senator Leila de Lima, on the other hand, called on the authorities to investigate the incident and hold accountable those responsible for the shooting.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also condemned the shooting. She also asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate the incident.

Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel also urged the PNP to probe the incident.

Moreover, Senator Kiko Pangilinan appealed to the Comelec to ensure a safe, clean, and honest election and campaign sorties.

Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said they are look into the shooting incidents to determine whether or not they were related to Eleksyon 2022.

Pangarungan noted that the poll body was offering additional security detail to all presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the investigation upon their request.

AFP says it responded immediately

Armed Forces of the Philippines Colonel Ramon Zagala said that military and police personnel immediately responded to the incident.

Zagala added that they helped the victims and secured the area.

GMA News sought comment from Mayor Lorenzo but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA News