Policeman wounded in Quezon political shooting

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — A policeman was wounded when he was hit by a stray bullet after alleged supporters of a mayoral candidate in Mulanay town in Quezon province shot at a vehicle carrying supporters of another candidate on Saturday afternoon, police said on Sunday.

Senior Insp. San Juan Aquino, Mulanay police chief, said PO1 Marlon Gonzaga and another policeman were on a motorcycle in Barangay F. Nañadiego when a van they were tailing was blocked and shot at by a group aboard a Mitsubishi Montero and several motorcycles at 3:30 p.m.

Gonzaga was hit in his left thigh and was taken to a hospital in nearby Catanauan town. He was later transferred to a hospital in Lucena City.

The other policeman, who was not named, was unhurt.

Citing witness accounts, Aquino said the gunmen on board motorcycles first slapped the van with their hands then blocked its path.

The gunmen then opened fire at the van but its three passengers were unhurt, Aquino said.

He described the incident as a case of “political harassment.”

Aquino said initial investigation showed that the passengers of the van were allies of former Mulanay Mayor Prudencio Maxino of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), while the gunmen were allegedly from the camp of reelectionist Mayor Tito Ojeda of the Liberal Party (LP).

Maxino is challenging Ojeda’s reelection bid./rga