Danao orders probe on ERIs in Ecija, Ilocos Sur
PHILIPPINE National Police Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC), Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Sunday ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting incidents in Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Sur which left four persons dead and nine others wounded.
A day before the national and local elections, the top cop said they are already 100 percent prepared to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful polls while enforcing a total gun ban and a crackdown on private armed groups across the country.
In Nueva Ecija, 24 persons—five of them wounded—were arrested by local policemen following a shooting incident in Purok Gulod in Barangay Concepcion, General Tinio municipality 11:45 p.m. Saturday.
The arrests were made after armed men identified with incumbent Mayor Isidro Pajarillaga and his rival Virgilio Bote exchanged fire.
The five wounded men have been given proper medical attention while under police guard.
Seized from the arrested suspects were five M-16 automatic rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, 15 handguns and over 200 rounds of assorted live ammunition, said Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director, Brigadier Gen. Matthew Baccay.
The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office will be filing criminal charges for frustrated murder, violation of Republic Act10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and the Omnibus Election Code against the arrested suspects.
In Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, local police reported that tension in the area has subsided with the arrival of more policemen dispatched to keep peace and prevent further escalation of violence in the wake of a gunbattle between supporters of two rival candidates on Saturday morning which killed four persons and wounded four others.
Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) director, Brig. Gen. Westrimundo Obinque said some arrests have been made in connection with the shooting incident and a thorough investigation is underway to identify other persons involved.
“For all intents and purposes, this single incident of apparent election-related violent incidents is an isolated case as the situation in the entire province of Ilocos Sur and the Ilocos-Pangasinan region remains peaceful and orderly,” said Lt. Gen. Danao.
PNP Public Information Office chief, Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said the PNP is continuing to monitor the situation and take further appropriate police intervention as necessary including possible recommendations to the Commission on Elections.
Lt. Gen. Danao said at the stroke of midnight Saturday, all campaign activities have concluded and any further campaigning beyond that are deemed prohibited acts considered as election offense.
He added that they are also enforcing a 48-hour election liquor ban until midnight Monday.
“As we speak, the PNP National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) reported a 92 percent completion of delivery of Official Ballots to 1,635 Treasurer’s Offices for further distribution to 37,113 polling centers,” he said.
A combined security contingent of 35,225 PNP, Armed Forces and Coast Guard personnel have been deployed in in 4,348 Comelec checkpoints in strategic locations in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
