Mayor, congressional bet hurt in Misamis Occidental shooting

Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental Mayor Michael Gutierrez and congressional aspirant Jason Almonte were wounded in a shooting incident that marred a Christmas party in Tangub City on Wednesday.

According to the Police Region Office 10 (PRO 10), PDP Laban and Asenso Ozamiz Local Party members were having a Christmas party when a "sniper fire" was heard at 8:45 p.m.

The bullet hit the frame of the glass door and a splinter hit the nape of Almonte, who is running as 1st district representative of Misamis Occidental, PRO 10 said in a report.

The slug hit the left temple and exited the nape of Michael Gutierrez, who is running for vice governor of the province.

Also present in the event was Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal. According to the Philippine National Police, Oaminal suffered minor bruises in the arm and back of the head.

Gutierrez and Almonte were rushed to Misamis University Medical Center where they received first aid before being transported to Mars General Hospital, Ozamis City for the operation.

Investigation is underway, according to the police.

The PNP said it has imposed a lockdown of Tangub City while dragnet operations are underway against the perpetrators. Checkpoints have also been set up.

PRO 10 director Police Brigadier General Benjamin Acorda said the Special Investigation Task Group Oaminal-Gutierrez-Almonte has been created to focus on the case.

“PRO 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,” he said in a 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,” Acorda added. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News