One killed in Abra shooting incident, grenade explodes in Basilan as canvassing of votes proceeds

By Ronron
May 17, 2007

A poll watcher died after shooting the wife of a mayoralty bet Thursday noon in the northern Philippine province of Abra as canvassing of votes was ongoing, while in Basilan down south, a grenade exploded at a canvassing site although no one was hurt.

Sr. Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra Provincial Police chief, said poll watcher Totoy Buyao was inside the canvassing area at the fourth floor of the Holy Spirit Academy Elementary building in Bangued town when he shot Brenda Crisologo, wife of Tineg mayoralty bet Edwin Crisologo, at around 12:20 pm.

Police said the canvassing of votes for Tineg was held at Bangued to avoid violent incidents in the former.

Crisologo, a former Mayor, is challenging the incumbent chief executive, Lenin Benwaren.

Pumecha said Buyao used a caliber 45 pistol when he attacked Mrs. Crisologo who was just sitting inside the canvassing hall.

Mrs. Crisologo sustained three gunshot wounds and was brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued for treatment.

Buyao, meanwhile, was shot dead by members of the Philippine Army who were securing the canvassing area.

“The motive for the attack is political, for sure,” Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales, chief of the Cordillera Region Police, said.

Asked if Buyao is allied with Benwaren, Pumecha said: “With the situation, we can say he is.”

Pumecha disclosed that Mrs. Crisologo was already in stable condition later in the afternoon and was moved to the recovery room after undergoing medical operation.

Abra is among the five provinces placed under Comelec control this election period due to intense political rivalry and presence of communist rebels.

Meanwhile, down south in Basilan province, the canvassing in Isabela City was disturbed on Wednesday night after two grenades were lobbed by unidentified men, one of which exploded.

Sr. Supt. Alex Macapantar, chief of Basilan Provincial Police, said no one was hurt in the blast that happened at 9pm at the Student Center of the Basilan State College, Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City, saying it could only be a form of harassment.

Macapantar said it was the votes for Lantawan town that was being canvassed at said school. The intense political rivalry in Lantawan prompted Comelec officials to transfer the canvassing of votes to the capital of Basilan.

Macapantar said the grenade that landed near the gate of the school exploded, while the one inside the building did not and was recovered during clearing operations.

“It’s more of suspected harassment from losing candidates,” Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said of the incident.

Macapantar said they are still conducting investigation to determine the identity of those who lobbed the grenades.

The explosion caused a temporary stop in the canvassing and only resumed at 8am Thursday, Macapantar said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership had already said it was still expecting more election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) after the election day last Monday as the counting of votes continue.

The latest report yesterday of the PNP showed there are already 230 ERVI’s since the start of the election period on January 14, 74 of which are confirmed to be politically motivated.

All incidents resulted to 134 deaths and 137 wounded persons, according to Chief Supt. Louie Palmera, deputy chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations./DMS