PNP: No Proof Yet Showing De Guzman Shooting Poll-Related

There has been no evidence, so far, showing that Partido ng Lakas ng Masa (PLM) presidential candidate Leody de Guzman was the target of a shooting incident in Quezon, Bukidnon last Tuesday, April 19, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Citing an initial investigation from the Northern Mindanao police, PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said on Wednesday, April 20, that what happened was that a security guard of a private property under dispute fired a warning shot when a group of people attempted to force their way into the premises.

“Does that incident have a connection with the presence of a presidential aspirant? We still don’t see any connection. It just so happened he was there,” Carlos said in Filipino and English, referring to De Guzman.

Probers have yet to receive proof that De Guzman was the target and that the incident was related to the May 9 elections, according to the PNP chief.

“Was he the target? No. Is this an election-related incident? We still don’t have an indicator or indication that would say that this is connected with the election,” Carlos said.

De Guzman was in Barangay San Jose in Bukidnon’s Quezon town to support leaders and members of the Manobo-Pulangiyon, who were allegedly displaced from their ancestral land by a politician.

PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Augustus Alba also said in a statement that it was “premature to say that the motive is election-related since we are still gathering enough evidence and determining the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

“Details remain sketchy since according to initial investigation, there is no proper coordination with authorities regarding their visit to an area with a standing court case,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino. “We would like to remind our candidates and the public at large that coordination is important so the PNP can provide security assistance to avoid any incidents from happening.”

The crossfire was caught on video by De Guzman’s senatorial candidate David D’Angelo that was broadcasted over Facebook Live. As seen in the video, people were scrambling for safety after the shots were fired.

In a tweet, De Guzman said he was close to being hit by a bullet. Nanie Abella, a farmer organizer who was standing next to the labor leader, suffered a bullet wound to the chest.

According to De Guzman’s camp, four others were injured from the indigenous people’s group: Bae Charita Anglao Delsocorro, Orlando Lingaolingao, Eger Dabatian and their datu Didilusan Arroyo. They were all rushed to the hospital.

In a press conference, De Guzman recalled that the shooting went on for 15 minutes. He also blamed Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III for the incident as he accused the local official of land grabbing.

“Ngayon nangyari ‘yan dahil sa kapabayaan o sabwatan ng LGU, ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno na dapat siyang mangangalaga sa kapakanan at karapatan ng ating mga katutubo, walang ginagawa sila, kumpleto [ang] papeles ng claim, kumpleto papeles ng recognition ‘yung mga katutubo (That happened because of the negligence or connivance of the local government unit, the government agencies that should protect the rights of our indigenous people. They are doing nothing. They have the complete papers of recognition, the complete papers for claim),” he said.

PLM chairman Sonny Melencio, in an interview with “The Big Story” on One News on Tuesday said that all those injured during the incident were safe. He also tagged the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as an “inutile” organization and that the government should do something about the incident

“Walang nagawang titulong nailabas ang NCIP na 'yan, it's becoming an ‘inutile’ organization at kawawa ang ating mga katutubo (The NCIP has never released a title. It’s becoming an inutile organization to the detriment of our tribesmen),” he said.

“Dahil lang ba alyado itong si Lorenzo, hahayaan na nila? This is impunity. If the government is allowing this to happen, walang mangayayari sa atin. Kinakawawa natin ang mga katutubo (Just because Lorenzo is an ally, will they just allow this to happen? This is impunity. If the government is allowing this to happen, nothing will come out of this. They will just let our tribesmen suffer),” he added.

In an interview with ANC on Wednesday, D’Angelo described the shooting incident where the assailants treated the tribe community as animals.

“Habang binabaril kami, sinasabihan pa ng mga namamaril, ‘Labas kayo diyan! Labas! Labas!' Parang mga daga, parang mga hayop na pinapuputukan (While they were shooting at us, the assailants were yelling, “Get out of here! Out! Out!” We were like rats, like animals being shot at),” the senatorial bet lamented.

Leni offers aid

Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp offered assistance to the people injured in the shooting incident.

“We are thankful that Ka Leody de Guzman is safe after the incident in Bukidnon. There can never be any justification for firing at peaceful, unarmed civilians,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We await more clarity on what happened, including verified details of the injured so we may offer assistance,” he added.

Sara condemns violence

UniTeam vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio condemned the reported violence that marred De Guzman’s campaign sortie.

“Of course, all election-related violence and allegations of fraud, we condemn that. We already wrote the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a general letter that if there is any allegation or incident, they should open all of those with an official inquiry,” Duterte-Carpio told reporters on Wednesday after meeting with the province’s health workers from the Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (AN-SAP) at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium in Batangas City.

Carpio and UniTeam standard-bearer former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are revisiting Southern Luzon provinces until today, April 21.

She and Marcos will continue to reach out to voters and spread their message of unity, healing, hope and peace until the end of the campaign period on May 7, two days before the elections. – With Helen Flores, Elizabeth Marcelo