ZAMBOANGA CITY – The chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) ordered Friday tight checkpoints in Zamboanga Sibugay province after a shooting incident involving a mayoralty candidate.
Brig. Gen. Franco Simborio said a political supporter of Siay town mayoralty candidate Mickel Argus was injured when gunmen believed to be followers of a rival candidate fired on Argus' convoy on Thursday afternoon.
Simborio said wounded in the incident in Barangay Mahayahay was Juan Abarca Jr., 47, who was hit in the leg and was rushed to the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial hospital.
He said before the incident, a political supporter of Argus was involved in an altercation with a rival candidate's supporter.
Simborio said the unidentified gunmen aboard two pick-up trucks opened fire as they stopped about 30 meters away from Argus' convoy, hitting Abarca.
At least 24 empty shells of an M-16 Armalite rifle, three empty shells of 9-mm. pistols, and two empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol were recovered from the crime scene.
Simborio said the provincial mobile force company and Siay policemen have been ordered to keep the political rivals in check and maintain peace in the town. (PNA)
