By Ronron
April 27, 2007
A municipal councilor candidate and a policeman died while 12 other persons, mostly cops, were wounded in a shootout Thursday night in Nueva Ecija province allegedly involving two feuding political figures in the province.
A police report from the Region III Police Office said the shooting incident between the groups of Nueva Ecija 4th District Representative Rodolfo Antonino (KAMPI) and dismissed Jaen Municipal Mayor Prospero Antonio Esquivel (Liberal Party-Atienza wing) clashed at around 10 pm the other day at Barangay Dampulan in Jaen town.
Initial data gathered by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, who went to the site yesterday (Friday), showed that the party of Antonino was holding a political caucus near the clash site when they allegedly noticed the presence of armed men.
This prompted them to request for deployment of members of the Regional Mobile Group III at the site.
Calderon said that when the RMG troops arrived, they met up with Antonino, who was with his wife and two children. Antonino is seeking another term at the Congress this May 14 polls.
Minutes later, the convoy of Esquivel, who is also participating in the upcoming elections as a Mayoralty candidate of Jaen, arrived.
Calderon said the RMG troops signaled at the convoy, consisting of at least three vehicles, to slow down since it is a narrow road and a caucus is ongoing nearby.
However, the convoy sped off, until a burst of gunfire was heard.
Killed were Rufino Galang, 54, a candidate for Municipal Councilor of Jaen; and, SPO1 Bobby Ferrer, 44, of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office. Both belong to Esquivel’s party.
The following members of Esquivel’s party were also wounded: Conrado Reyes; Ireneo Yadro; Teofila Mangunay; Patricio de Belen; SPO1 Noly Rey Perez, 42; SPO2 Elmer Bautista, 48; PO2 Egbert Castillo, 31; PO1 Emerson Nagaño, 35; Mark Lawrence Esqiuvel, candidate for Vice-Mayor in Jaen; Mark Anthony Esquivel; and PO2 Nestor Ramos, 30.
PO1 Michael Valenzuela, a member of the RMG, was likewise wounded.
The Region III police report said scene of the crime operatives from the Nueva Ecija Provincial Crime Laboratory recovered empty shells of M16, M14, caliber 9mm, and caliber 45 from the site.
“As to who fired the first shot, that’s the subject now of the investigation,” Calderon said.
In a television interview, Esquivel alleged that he saw Antonino talking to the RMG operatives, as if ordering to open fire at them.
But Antonino said he could not have ordered for an ambush because he was with his family. Besides, he said it was the party of Esquivel who refused to heed to the RMG’s signal.
Antonino theorized that the bullets that hit Esquivel’s companions could have also come from his followers because only the front parts were hit.
Asked about the circumstances of the incident, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office Director Sr. Supt. Allen Bantolo said it is better to wait for the Task Group Jaen, created by Calderon, to finish its investigation.
Calderon said although the feud between Antonino and Esquivel is not deeply rooted, it was recently stirred up by the latter’s dismissal in January of this year.
Calderon said Esquivel blamed Antonino as the person behind the complaint lodged against him before the Office of the Ombudsman for the illegal recall of the appointments of three Board of Director members of the Jaen Water Distrcit.
Esquivel was found guilty of grave misconduct by the Ombdusman for said allegation.
Although he called the incident an isolated and expected one, Calderon said he instituted measures to avoid the escalation of the feud and a repeat of the same among other candidates in the province.
He said he recommended the placing of the entire province of Nueva Ecija under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which he hopes to be approved as soon as possible.
Also, Calderon said Task Force Jaen will make sure that the police escorts provided to candidates will come from one unit so that every one knows one another.
Calderon immediately relieved the chief of police of Jaen and all RMG operatives who were part of the incident as the investigation continues.
“We are trying to assure the country, especially the people of Nueva Ecija that we will give you a peaceful and orderly elections this year,” Calderon said./DMS
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