Mayor’s man hurt in Tudela shooting

The errand boy of Tudela Mayor Rogelio Bacquerfo, Sr. was hurt when a lone gunman fired at them Monday night in barangay Puertobello of the town.

Provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria sent a team from the Special Reaction Unit to the town to beef up the local police force while investigation and hot pursuit of the gunman is being carried out.

A new police chief, Sr. Insp. Almirante Bacayo, also replaced Sr. Insp. Ramon Ortiz effective yesterday.

Valmoria, however, clarified that the relief of Ortiz has nothing to do with the incident and was already scheduled weeks ago.

Police identified the victim as Celso Cuizon, 51, a native of barangay Looc, Danao City.  He however only suffered a graze wound at the right side of his face and is out of danger.

He was about to close the van of the mayor when shot at.

According to the police, Bacquerfo was invited as guest speaker for the Puertobello National High School commencement exercise that night.

The mayor was with his wife, Nanette, and their driver Juan “Titing” de la Paz.

Nanette was seated at the back of the driver while Cuizon was to occupy the seat behind Bacquerfo beside the mayor’s wife.

Police said, after the graduation rites the faculty of the said school invited the official to a dinner at the Home Economics building not far from the covered court and when the group was about to head to the area, the shooter opened fire at them.

The driver hearing the shot reportedly warned Bacquerfo “mayor hupo kay dunay namusil,” and later heard Cuizon said “ igo ko mayor” prompting Bacquerfo to order de la Paz to sped-away and they brought Cuizon to the San Francisco District Hospital.

“That bullet was intended for me,” said Bacquerfo.

He even identified the shooter as allegedly Marlito Montero, Jr.  He also believes that politics is the motive behind the attempt on his life.

Last January the Regional Trial Court in Danao City ordered the installation of Bacquerfo’s political rival, Demetrio Granada, as the town’s new mayor after the latter was proclaimed winner in a recount.

Bacquerfo however succeeded in preventing Granada’s take over of the reign of power after he was able to secure a restraining order from the court.

Although, Bacquerfo did not name Granada as possible mastermind of his alleged assassination attempt the incident has made him consider the possibility of hiring a bodyguard.

He said he never had a bodyguard and that Cuizon, who was first reported as his personal bodyguard, is just his errand boy.

According to him, he hired Cuizon as job order employee of the municipality to serve as his “eyes and ears.”

In the last May 11 elections, Bacquerfo was declared winner over Granada with only a margin of eight votes.

Granada then filed an election protest.

After a recount, Judge Edito Enemecio of Danao City ruled in November that Granada won by 13 votes.

However, while Bacquerfo divulged the identity of the suspect, Valmoria refrained from disclosing it to reporters claiming that hot pursuit operations and investigation is still going on.

“We already identified the suspect, but we could not disclose it yet until we get statements from the witnesses we know that many saw it because the place is well lighted,” Valmoria explained.

Valmoria also countered Bacquerfo’s suspicion that he was the target and it was politically motivated judging the manner of execution of the shooting.

“The assailant’s target is really Cuizon. We are still trying to establish the motive. We believed the suspect was already been there during the program, otherwise it could have been a good shot,” Valmoria adding that the gunman only fired once.

Police, upon hearing of the incident, immediately conducted hot pursuit operation but failed to catch the suspect.

Valmoria said they are looking into personal grudges between the suspect and Cuizon.

Last month, the suspect and his family were reportedly harassed by people believed to be relatives of Bacquerfo, who allegedly burned their pumpboats and threw a grenade at the roof of their home.  Luckily no one was hurt in the explosion.

But Valmoria said, the Monteros refused to give statements on the incident and no charges were filed against the perpetrators.

In an interview with radio station dyDD, Granada refused to comment on the incident but understands the comment issued by Bacquerfo.

He said that he would wait for the full details of the incident before he would comment.—(/NLQ)