MANILA, Philippines – Two local candidates in next year’s elections in Misamis Occidental were injured in a shooting incident, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.
In a statement, the PNP said Lopez Jaena Mayor Michael Gutierrez, who is running for vice governor, sustained a gunshot wound to the head after a sniper fired at a party they were attending in Tangub City around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
Gutierrez was rushed to the hospital. His family said the mayor successfully underwent an operation but he has yet to regain consciousness.
Gutierrez attended the party along with House Deputy Speaker Henry Oaminal and other local politicians, including former Oroquieta City Mayor Jason Almonte who is a congressional aspirant.
The PNP said Almonte was also injured in the incident while Oaminal suffered minor bruises in the arm and back of the head.
Both Almonte and Oaminal are now in stable condition and have been released from the hospital, it added.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Roderick Augustus Alba said investigation into the incident is underway.
A lockdown was also imposed in Tangub City while dragnet operations are underway against the perpetrators. Mobile checkpoints have also been set up around the city.
Police Brigadier General Benjamin Acorda Jr., PRO-10 Regional Director, said a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been formed to focus on the incident.
“Police Regional Office 10 strongly condemns the shooting incident that transpired yesterday in tangub city during a christmas fellowship party of the group of Congressman Henry Oaminal, Mayor Michael Gutierrez and Mr Jason Almonte,” Acorda said in a separate statement.
“We encourage the public to provide us relevant information especially those who have witnessed the incident and report it to the nearest police stations or through these numbers: 0917-631-1813/0915-303-3072,” he added.
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