Calasiao shooting, not election-related
CALASIAO–It appeared to be an election-related shooting incident but the police have since determined that it was due to unsettled conflicts between the families of the suspect and the barangay kapitan who was seriously wounded.
P/Sr. Supt. Supt. Marlou Chan, police provincial director, said that intense family feud between the families of Longos Barangay Captain Mahadave Mesina and the suspect Arnulfo Calaunan led to the shooting incident that led to the death of one and the wounding of Mesina and three others before noon of Oct. 18.
The shooting happened at about 11;50 a.m. along the provincial road in Barangay Poblacion East here shortly after Mesina attended a peace covenant ceremony along with other candidates.
While on board a van, Mesina and his companions were suddenly fired upon by three men riding a motorcycle. Killed on the spot was Domingo Gaspar, 33, a former member of the Philippine Army and bodyguard of Mesina.
Mesina was himself shot in different parts of his body but survived.
The other persons wounded were Joel Babac, also a former member of the Philippine Army and family driver of the Mesina family and 6-year old Gemruth Reychelle Salvarida. a Grade 1 pupil from Barangay Lumbang, Calasiao, a bystander who was hit by a stray bullet.
The shooting incident happened during the current gun ban imposed by the commission on Elections in connection with the barangay polls.
Responding police elements gave chase to the suspects along the riverbanks in Sitio Pandayan, Gabon and one of the suspects, Arnulfo Calaunan, 48, an American citizen who was wounded in the leg, was arrested.
Calaunan, reportedly with three unidentified persons when they ambushed Mesina and his group, was found wearing a bulletproof vest. Confiscated from his possession an Armscor Caliber 45 pistol with three magazines.
Investigation showed that after the first volley of fires, Gaspar and Babac who were armed, managed to return the fire but Gaspar was fatally hit on the head and died on the spot.
As a result of the shooting incident, the second in the town, Supt. Noel Vallo, chief of police of Calasiao, was relieved from his post.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
