Pampanga election officer survives ambush

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – An election officer in this province survived an ambush staged by two unidentified gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle at Barangay San Miguel, San Simon town, Wednesday night.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Pampanga Police Provincial director, said Filomeno Eufemia, election officer of Apalit town was unhurt during the ambush.

Eufemia together with a certain Marilou Angeles, both residents of Purok 3, Barangay Cansinala, Apalit were on board a Mitsubishi Adventure sport utility vehicle (WSS-521) on their way to San Simon town when waylaid by the gunmen at about 8:30 p.m., Gaerlan said.

One of the gunmen fired his gun once but failed to hit Eufemia, he said.

The gunfire hit the left rear door of Eufemia’s vehicle that only caused minor damage.

Gaerlan said the suspects then fled on board a motorcycle without license plates toward north direction.

He said at about 11:30 p.m. the same day, four persons on board two motorcycles without plate numbers were arrested in a PNP checkpoint along McArthur highway in Tulaoc junction road, Barangay San Agustin, San Simon town.

The arrested persons were identified as Joey Boy Madla, 19; Jimmy de la Cruz, 18; King Russel Cao, 18; and Price Noriel Hipolito, 18. They were arrested in connection with a shooting incident that happened in Barangay San Miguel, San Simon town.

Gaerlan said that Madla was positvely identified by the victim as the alleged gunman.

Police said Eufemia is now in police custody with Temie Lambino, Comelec provincial supervisor.

Gaerlan said that he has tasked Pampanga Intelligence personnel to investigate the said shooting incident if it is politically related. – With Ding Cervantes