Presidential candidate and labor leader Ka Leody De Guzman tagged Quezon, Bukidnon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III and his group behind the shooting incident during his visit in the area on Tuesday, April 19.
The presidential candidate alleged that the town mayor is a land grabber.
“Siya daw ‘yung tumatayong general manager nung kompanyang… Kiantig Development Corporation at siya lagi ‘yung talagang nag-uutos talaga na huwag ipagkaloob sa mga katutubo na manobo ‘yung lupa,” he said.
De Guzman said the Manobo Tribe has already informed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and stressed that they have coordinated with the local government unit, NCIP, and military before going to the area.
The camp of De Guzman plans to file a case against those who fired at them. He said no warning shot was fired when the incident happened.
Lorenzo said he is no longer affiliated with the company since he became the town’s mayor.
“Before, noon, sus several years ago. Now I’m not connected there anymore. Since I became mayor, hindi na ako connected,” he said.
Lorenzo said De Guzman’s camp can “go ahead” with their plan to pursue a case against him.
“Let them do it. Anybody can file a case. Can they prove anything? I’m not connected there. I was not there when that happened. I did not know it was happening, wala man ako dun. I was campaigning in the mountain barangays when it happened,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has conducted an initial investigation on the incident and concluded in its report that it is premature to consider, let alone categorize, the shooting incident as election-related.
“Sa inisyal na imbestigasyon ay ‘yung gwardiya po ang nagpaputok dahil may group of people, mga petitioners po ito na pumasok sa isang lugar at hindi po niya napigilan, nag-warning shot may tinamaan,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said.
“May koneksiyon ba ito sa presence ng isang presidential aspirant? Wala pa ho tayong nakikitang koneksiyon na ganun. It just happened he was there. Is he the target? No. Is this an election-related incident? Wala pa po kaming indication that this is connected with election,” he added.
Commission on Elections Chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan condemned the incident, and offered additional security detail to presidential and vice presidential candidates while investigation is ongoing.
In the April 20 Laging Handa briefing, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing explained the importance of investigating the claims of both parties.
“At i-involve ang NCIP dahil ito po ang totoong ahensiyang namamahala sa mga kalupaan ng ating mga indigenous people. So i-involve po natin ang NCIP, talagang imbestigahan nang tama para malaman natin ang tunay na kwento dahil ito po ay mga alegasyon lamang na ginagamit sa pulitika,” he said.
Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also condemned the incident. – Report from Rod Lagusad/AG-gb
