Occidental Mindoro governor survives knife attack

MANILA, Philippines — Occidental Mindoro Gov. Eduardo Gadiano survived a knife attack yesterday.

Gadiano, 57, was in his office at the provincial capitol in Barangay Payompon, Maburao when businessman Adrian Gatdula, 53, lunged at him with a knife.

The governor managed to dodge the knife. His companion threw a chair at the suspect who hid in the comfort room, where he was subdued after around 15 minutes.

Gadiano left his office when police officers arrived. Gatdula was arrested.

The governor said he was puzzled at Gatdula’s action, noting that the businessman was his supporter.

“Hindi natin alam kung ano ang dahilan at matagal na kami hindi nagkita,” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

Gadiano said he plans to talk with Gatdula after the police is done with its investigation.

Meanwhile in Rizal, a police officer was gunned down in Rodriguez town on Monday night.

S/Sgt. Renato Grecia, who was detailed at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, was shot at around 10 p.m. near his  house in Barangay Burgos, Rodriguez police chief Lt. Col. Rexpher Gaoiran said in an interview over ABS-CBN.

Based on the account of witnesses and footage of closed-circuit television camera at the scene, the assailant approached Grecia at the side of his house.

The suspect, who was wearing a jacket, fled on a waiting motorcycle.