LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A supporter of mayoral candidate Karen Marpuri Ballesteros of Claveria town, Masbate province was allegedly shot and wounded by a policeman escorting Mayor Frolian Andeza while she was campaigning in Barangay Peñafrancia on Easter Sunday.

BALLESTEROS (FB)

Police identified the victim as Aladin Mingoy, 38, a fisherman.

The Police Regional Office-5 said the victim and Ballesteros were campaigning when a heated argument erupted between Mingoy and the police officer.

The police officer drew a gun and shot Mingoy.

Ballesteros told the Manila Bulletin that the incident transpired near the house of Barangay Kagawad Bonbon Amparo after she and her team had just finished eating.

“Nangyari po ‘yun pakatapos naming kumain kay barangay kagawad (Bonbon) Amparo. Bigla po dumating si Mayor Froilan Andueza. Pero tumambay muna sila dun sa bahay ni Reynante Alvarez. Ako naman, para makaiwas, kumanan kami. Pero andun pala ‘yung escort niya. Bumunot ng baril, nasa sako. Buti na lang tumama sa duyan kaya nakatakbo ako," Ballesteros said.

(The incident happened after we had just finished eating at barangay kagawad Bonbon Amparo's house. Mayor Froilan Andueza arrived and stayed at Reynante Alvarez's house. I avoided him but his escrot was there. He drew a gun and shot us. The bullet hit a hammock and I was able to run)

"Sa tingin ko ako yung puntirya. Nakatago ako sa loob ng bahay pero pinapa-putukan pa rin ‘yung bahay na pinag-taguan ko. Mga tatlong oras akong nagtago sa loob ng bahay. Pakatapos nun, nung may signal na ako, saka ko pa lang nalaman na may tama na pala ng bala ‘yung tao ko na nakasunod sa akin,” Ballesteros narrated.

(I think I am the target. They shot the house where I was hiding. I hid there for three hours. I only learned that somebody was shot after I had cellphone signal)

Ballesteros said Mingoy sustained a bullet wound in the stomach and is in stable condition in the hospital.

“Sa tiyan ang tama niya. Tapos tumagos sa likod. Kagabi, kritikal siya pero ngayon nasa normal condition na siya,” she said.

(He was wounded in the stomach. The bullet exited through his back. He was at first in critical but now in normal condition)

Police recovered two fired caliber .45 cartridge cases in the area.

Ballesteros said the shooter is a police officer escorting incumbent Mayor Froilan Andueza. “Pulis po siya, escort ni mayor pero hindi siya legal,” she said.

(He is a police officer, an escort of the mayor but he is not legal)

She said they are preparing a case against her opponent.

“Yung asawa ni Mayor Froilan Andueza po ang kalaban ko ngayon sa pagka-mayor. Si Mayor Froilan kasi tapos na ang termino at tumatakbo naman bilang Vice Mayor,” she said.

(My opponent for mayor is Froilan's wife. He had just finished three terms and he is running for vice mayor)

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, PRO-5 chief Police Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon said two policemen were in the area when the incident happened.

“Sa report po sa atin ng Masbate PPO, may dalawang pulis doon sa area at nagko-conduct ng operation against illegal gambling. Pero papa-imbestigahan po natin ‘yung pangyayari. Papa-ballistic natin ‘yung nakuhang mga bala,” Dizon said.

(The Masbate PPO reported that there were two policemen in the area conducting an operation against illegal gambling. We will investigate the incident. We will conduct a ballistics examination on the bullets)

Dizon suggested to Ballesteros to file a case since they have identified the suspect.

Follow-up investigation is being conducted by Claveria Municipal Police Station.