24 nabbed, 5 injured in suspected election-related shooting in Nueva Ecija –PNP

Twenty-four individuals were arrested, five of whom were injured, in a suspected election-related shooting incident in Nueva Ecija involving security personnel of incumbent mayor Isidro Pajarillaga and mayoral candidate Virgilio Bote, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Sunday.

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo reported that the incident occurred in Purok Gulod, Barangay Concepcion, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija at around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday.

“We are considering the incident in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija as a suspected election-related incident considering that the involved parties there are the supporters and bodyguards of both candidates running for particular elective position,” she added.

Fajardo said the five wounded were already given medical attention but remained under police custody for further investigation.

According to a report on 24 Oras Weekend by Darlene Cay, the PNP found that 19 of the individuals were linked to Pajarillaga, while five were linked to Bote. They will all be facing charges on frustrated murder and related to ongoing gun ban.

The Nueva Ecija Police is now preparing criminal charges for frustrated murder, violation of Republic Act 10591 and violation of Omnibus Election Code (gun ban) against the arrested suspects, she added.

The Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) investigators are also conducting examination of the crime scene where five bullet-riddled sports utility vehicles were recovered.

Other confiscated items from the arrested persons were five M-16 rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, 15 handguns, and over 200 rounds of assorted live ammunition. There were also 20 cell phones, three handheld radios, and campaign leaflets of Pajarillaga that were recovered, Police Regional Office 3 Police Major Aileen Rose Stanger noted.

“Ang ating pulisya po ay nage-exert ng lahat ng effort para ma-mitigate ang occurrence ng violence dito sa four corners ng Region especially ngayong election period,” Stanger added.

(Our police are exerting all efforts to mitigate the occurrence of violence here in the four corners of the Region especially during this election period.) — with Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG/BM, GMA News