The Philippine National Police (PNP) imposed a lockdown in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, while dragnet operations are under way to capture the suspects behind the shooting of three local political leaders on Wednesday evening.
Reports reaching the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame said that policemen from the Provincial Mobile Force Company of Misamis Occidental and Regional Mobile Force Battalion of Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 were fielded to assist the local police in setting up mobile checkpoints around Tangub City.
Upon the instructions issued by PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos, PRO-10 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) that will coordinate all investigative efforts of PNP Units.
According to reports from Acorda, a single gunshot at 8:45 p.m. marred a Christmas party in Sitio Pulao, Barangay VII, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, that was attended by local political personalities led by Congressman Henry S. Oaminal.
Wounded in the shooting were Mayor Michael Gutierrez of Lopez Jaena municipality who is running for vice governor of Misamis Occidental, former Oroquieta City Mayor Jason Almonte, who is a candidate for congressman for the 1st district of Misamis Occidental and Oaminal who suffered minor bruises in the arm and back of the head.
Gutierrez suffered a gunshot wound in the head and is under medical treatment at the Misamis University Medical Center, Ozamiz City, while both Oaminal and Almonte are in stable condition and have been released from the hospital.
Police teams were formed to provide security to all three shooting victims while forensic investigators are now processing the crime scene.