Gov. Hilario Davide III inspects the bullet-riddled vehicle of LP vice mayoral bet Rene Asentista. PHOTO FROM GUNGUN GICA’S FB PAGE
CEBU CITY–Police operatives have arrested three men tagged as suspects in the strafing of the vehicle owned by a Liberal Party candidate for vice mayor in Dumanjug town, some 74.3 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.
Senior Inspector Arvi Arbuis, chief of the Dumanjug Police Station, said they were hunting down five more men including Nilo Quirante, a former policeman who was reportedly connected to a local politician.
The joint operatives from the Dumanjug police station, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Provincial Police Safety Company (PPSC) arrested on Friday night 18-year-old Dexter James Aniñon, who reportedly served as lookout when the gunmen strafed and lobbed a grenade at the Mitsubishi Pajero of LP vice mayoral bet Rainero “Rene” Asentista parked beside the Barangay Hall of Masa, about 20 km from Dumanjug town proper.
READ: Candidate for Vice Mayor in Cebu escapes ambush
Joselito Quirante Gicale, 35, and Samuel Villagonzalo, 31, were arrested at 5:14 a.m. on Saturday in Barangay Pawa, Dumanjug after the police received a text message about the presence of armed men.
Arbuis said the two were seen in the house of Quirante. When the policemen arrived, the two tried to run but they were immediately arrested.
Arbuis said Villagonzalo attempted to pull out his .45 caliber pistol before he was able to subdue him.
Arbuis said he sustained minor bruises.
Aside from the gun, policemen also found a grenade and eight packs of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in the possession of Villagonzalo.
Recovered from Gicale were 1 piece 40mm bullet, six small packs of shabu, a bolo and shabu paraphernalia.
Arbuis said the suspects were identified by the witnesses who were among the seven inside strafed the vehicle. Policemen found messages from the cellphone of Villagonzalo showing his connection to the strafing incident.
Arbuis said Gicale and Villagonzalo worked for Quirante.
Arbuis did not discount the possibility that the strafing was politically-motivated but refused to identify the local politician who served as patron of Quirante.
Asentista is the running mate of incumbent Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica of LP. Gica is running against incumbent Mayor Nelson Garcia who earlier believed that the shooting in Masa on Friday afternoon was a political gimmick of Gica.
Gica and Asentista were holding a consultative meeting in Barangay (village) Masa.
Gica already left the area when the gunmen allegedly fired at the parked vehicle of Asentista using caliber .44 pistol, M16 rifle and M79 rifle grenade. An apple grenade which did not explode, was found in the area.
Asentista and some of LP candidates were shaking the hands of the residents at the basketball court when the strafing incident happened.