Sunday, November 11, 2007 Escalante shooting leaves 2 fatalities By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Gil Alfredo B. Severino
* Incident tagged politically-motivated
TWO persons were killed in a shooting incident in Barangay Libertad, Escalante City at around 6:30 Thursday night.
One of the fatalities was identified as Filjun Damalerio, 28, son of re-elected barangay chief Fernando Damalerio, who was the alleged target of the attack perpetrated by around 17 armed men.
The other fatality remains unidentified as of Thursday night.
Both victims were brought to the morgue of Jaruda Funeral Parlor in Escalante City Thursday night.
In a phone interview with the elder Damalerio, he said he was approaching their house from the City's public market when he heard series of gunshots.
He saw around 17 armed men strafing his house including that of his son which is located beside his house.
"I saw my son getting out of their house supposedly to know about the shooting, unfortunately, he was hit by bullets and died instantly," the village chief recounted to Sun.Star-Bacolod, adding, "This prompted me to immediately rush inside our house to also get my firearm."
When he was already inside their house, the elder Damalerio said, attackers continued to fire at him but he managed to fight back and killed one of them.
"Kilala ko ang napatay ko ugaling indi lang ko anay magmitlang sang iya ngalan kay kabudlay na (I know whom I killed but I won't mention his name yet because it's difficult at this time)," the village chief said.
Politically-motivated
Asked of the motive of the attack, the elder Damalerio simply replied: "It's politically-motivated."
Damalerio, a known political supporter of Vice Mayor Santiago Barcelona won over George Espada, also a known ally of Mayor Melecio "Biboy" Yap.
Yap and Barcelona are politically "not in good terms."
Also in a phone interview, Barcelona refused to comment on the allegation that the 17 armed who attacked the Damalerios were from Espada's or Yap's camp.
"For now, it's hard to say something or to confirm about the allegations on the incident. My only intention (right now) is to secure my man (Damalerio)," the vice mayor also told Sun.Star-Bacolod.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Director Rosendo Franco, meanwhile, immediately instructed Superintendent Iver Appelledo to assist Escalante City Police Chief Leonardo Angcon, in the investigation of the matter.
No comment
Franco, however, refused to comment on the incident.
Not even on the alleged Yap-Barcelona rift.
I want to know the real score first before issuing any statement relative to the reported shooting incident in Escalante City, the police official said.
Sun.Star-Bacolod tried but failed to contact Yap for comment as of Thursday night.
'Hot spot'
Escalante City has been tagged as election "hot spot" in Negros Occidental even during the national and local elections on May 14 due to the intense political rivalry between Yap and Barcelona.
Several election-related incidents were recorded in this City before, during and after the May 14 elections.
Prior to the October 29 barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) elections, the same things happened, a lot of complaints on the alleged intimidation of voters in the far-flung barangays.
The complaints even the office of Governor Joseph Maranon prompting the latter to order Franco to probe the complaints and do necessary actions if possible.
Franco, however, can't ascertain whether those reported intimidation in some areas in Escalante City can be considered politically-motivated as allegedly orchestrated either by the Yap or Barcelona camp.
