MOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur - A political supporter was killed while another one was wounded in a shooting incident fueled by political rivalry in this municipality, the police disclosed Friday.
Maj. Willie Joy Pogado, local police chief, said the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. Thursday along Blancia Street, Purok Mangga, Barangay Madasigon, this town.
Pogado identified the fatality as Joseph Aljo, 34, a construction worker and a supporter of mayoralty candidate Cyril Reo Glepa, son of last-term mayor Ireneo Glepa.
Pogado said wounded was Laurencio Canlom Jr., 52, the barangay affairs secretary and Glepa's campaign manager.
Police report showed that Aljo and Canlom were together with two other Glepa supporters --Jessie Gapol, 40; and Jason Aljo, 30—and were traveling aboard two motorcycles around 6:30 p.m. Thursday along Blancia Street when a van blocked their path, forcing them to stop.
Joseph was the back rider of Gapol while Canlom was with Jason, a municipal government employee, at the time of the incident.
The gunmen, clad in masks, then got off the van and pointed their guns to the four.
Seconds later, six people, including Vice Mayor Rico Amigo, who is a candidate for mayor, alighted from two vehicles that suddenly arrived at the scene. Amigo was allegedly armed with a rifle while his companions with handguns.
Amigo allegedly hit Joseph with a rifle butt. Joseph tried to flee but was shot and killed by Amigo, the report said.
Jason and Gapol managed to escape and hide at the back of house of Canlom, who was wounded, while trying to hide.
The other men with Amigo fired several shots, forcing responding policemen to seek cover and maneuver.
Pogado said the policemen tried but failed to stop Amigo's group, which fled after the incident.
Authorities managed to arrest two of Amigo's escorts -- Junard Barrientos, 37; and Jerjun Alforque, 27.
Pogado said they have launched a manhunt operation against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Councilor Viccon Enricoso, denied that Amigo was involved, citing the vice mayor was not around at the time of the incident.
In a press conference, Enricoso said they were aboard a tricycle and about to deliver a letter when Glepa's vehicle, with gunmen aboard, arrived in the area.
He said the armed men asked them at gunpoint where they placed the money they were bringing.
“We were all gun-toted by around eight men, some were wearing face masks. The armed men aimed to rob us but we don't have the money they were asking,” Enricoso said.
“We even called the Vice Mayor by phone and asked for help. We were being harassed and threatened, they were asking for the money they thought we were bringing,” he said.
“We heard gunshots later but I no longer have any idea of what's going on because of fear. We were all hiding,” he added.
He said there were instances the gunmen men were harassing Amigo's supporters. (PNA)
