Surigao City prosecutor who got death threats, shot, wounded

Gun attack (CDN FILE PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

SURIGAO CITY – A government prosecutor remains in critical condition after he was shot outside his residence in Barangay Canlanipa here Monday morning, according to the police.

City Prosecutor Manuel Tesiorna was washing his car just outside the gate of his house in Canlanipa Homes when a motorcycle-riding gunman shot him four times at around 7 a.m., said Police Officer 3 Johans Castillo, the investigating officer.

Tesiorna, 47, was preparing his car for work when he was shot in the chest, neck and back. The assailant and his companion, who were both wearing masks, fled on board a white Honda XRM motorcycle, police said.

Based on the empty shells recovered from the crime scene, police said the weapon used on Tesiorna was a 9mm pistol.

A passenger motorcycle brought Tesiorna to the Miranda Family Hospital, where doctors said he needed blood transfusion. He was later airlifted to Cebu City for treatment.

Tesiorna’s shooting came four days after retired Regional Trial Court judge Victor Canoy was shot to death by a lone gunman last Thursday while he was buying food at an eatery near his law office along Borja Street. Police still have no lead   to  Canoy’s shooting.

Senior Supt. Anthony Maghari, police chief for Surigao del Norte, said Tesiorna sought and was granted police protection last week after Canoy was killed.

A policeman assigned to the prosecutor was already en route to the victim’s residence when the shooting happened, Maghari said.

Police have been reviewing CCTV footages and interviewing witnesses to identify the assailants, Maghari said.

He said it was unlikely that one group was involved in the Canoy and Tesiorna’s shooting although he declined to elaborate, citing ongoing investigation.  SFM/rga