MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for additional security in light of the shooting incident in Bukidnon involving his opponent labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman.
Several gunshots were fired against the camp of De Guzman when they visited the ancestral land of the Manobo tribe in Quezon, Bukidnon.
De Guzman said that two individuals sustained gunshot wounds — farmer group organizer Nanie Abela who was just beside the presidential bet when the shooting happened, and a leader of the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe.
He was unharmed in the incident.
READ: Shots fired in Ka Leody’s visit to Manobo tribe ancestral land in Bukidnon
For his part, Pacquiao condemned the incident, appealing to the public to “calm down” and allow the candidates to campaign and the voters to choose their next leaders.
“Hindi natin alam ‘yung dahilan doon sa pangyayari pero ako’y nakikiusap pa rin sa taumbayan na huminahon tayo. Bigyan natin ng kalayaan ang bawat isa na tumakbo, magpapili at bigyan natin ng kalayaan ang bawat isa na pumili,” he said in a press briefing in Ilocos Norte.
(We don’t know the reason behind the shooting, but I ask the public to calm down. Let’s give each other the freedom to run for office and campaign and let’s give each other the freedom to choose.)
“Pagdating sa halalan, kailangan magtulungan tayong lahat para sa malinis at maayos na matagumpay na halalan,” Pacquiao added.
(When it comes to the elections, we need to help each other to have clean, orderly, and successful elections.)
Since the shooting incident, the Comelec is now offering additional security detail to presidential and vice-presidential candidates upon request.
Pacquiao said he will take up on the offer of the polling body to ensure his safety.
He, however, clarified that he has not received any reports on threats to his life and just wants to ensure the safety of himself and his team for the election season.
“Hihingi tayo dahil para sa seguridad ng sarili ko at suyempre sa bawat isa. Wala naman tayong nabalitaan na may threat sa akin. Paninigurado lang,” the boxer-turned-politician said.
(We will ask for additional security detail for myself and for everyone. We have not received information on threats against me but I would just like to ensure our safety.)
For its part, the Philippine National Police said it is premature to say that the shooting incident involving De Guzman is election-related.
READ: Premature to say shooting incident involving ‘Ka Leody’ is election related — PNP