CAMP VICENTE LIM Canlubang, Laguna -- Police Regional Office-Calabarazon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) Director BGen. Antonio Yarra has ordered the creation of a special Task Force that will conduct a thorough investigation on the shooting of Infanta, Quezon Mayor Filipina Grace America on Sunday, Feb. 27.
“We will leave no stone unturned to determine the possible motive behind the shooting ” Yarra said.
The Infanta Municipal Police Station is now investigating and identifying the suspects behind the shooting.
America, the incumbent mayor and re-electionist, sustained injuries after she was shot by an unidentified suspect at about 11:15 a.m.
She was onboard her Chevrolet Trailblazer which was being driven by her brother, Alvin Leynes America, after attending a mass at the Disciple’s Church in the place when she was shot by a suspect who fled after the incident.
America sustained gunshot wounds on her right arm and was immediately rushed to Claro M Recto Hospital and later airlifted by PAF helicopter ambulance to a hospital in Manila for treatment.
Recovered from the crime scene were two slugs of caliber .45 and six pieces spent shells.
Maj. Francis Aldrich Garcia, Infanta police chief said they are looking at the motive for the shooting.
Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez released a video footage seeking for an immediate solution to the case and condemning the attack on America.
Suarez directed Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) director Col. Joel Villanueva, Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Yarra, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Elizer Salcedo to beef up security in the province.
Bishop Bernardino Cortez, Prelate of Infanta, strongly condemned the attack by saying: "Kailanman ay hindi maaaring maging solusyon ang karahasan sa mga suliranin at usapin ng hindi pagkakaunawaan bagkus magiging daan pa ito ng pagkakahati-hati ng mga tao. Ang simbahan kahit kailan ay magiging isang propeta ng katarungan, katotohanan at katapatan." (Violence is never a solution to any problem and leads to division among the people. The Church will always stand for justice, truth, and honesty.)