Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Mayoral bet's backers survive ambush By Danilo V. Adorador III and Joey P. Nacalaban
TWO supporters of a mayoral candidate survived a pre-dawn ambush in the Misamis Oriental town of Villanueva, witnesses said.
Seriously wounded was 65-year-old Oliver Yap, who sustained a gunshot wound in his nape and was immediately rushed to the town's hospital. His companion, 52-year-old Philip Abejaron, sustained minor wounds in his left arm.
The two are political supporters of Dr. Josefa Neri, challenger of incumbent Mayor Juliet Uy.
Yap is said to be related to Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, though the information had yet to be validated as of Monday.
Witness accounts said armed men waylaid the victims as they were heading to Barangay Dayawan, riding tandem in motorcycles.
But the Villanueva police said they were still validating whether the incident had been an ambush or an altercation between the supporters of rival political camps.
Probers also said they have identified one suspect, whose name was withheld pending investigation.
"We have received conflicting reports on the incident: one pointing to an ambush, and the other pointing to a fight that erupted when Mr. Yap chased a supporter of Mayor Uy with bolo," said SPO1 Ferdinand Bongabong, who is investigating the case.
However, a witness to the incident who spoke to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro disputed the latter version pointed out by the police, saying it was impossible for Yap to carry a bolo while driving a motorcycle.
But the Villanueva police said they have in their possession the bolo allegedly used by Yap in the melee.
The witness, who requested anonymity for fear of possible reprisal, accused the Villanueva police of being biased against the victims since "they are supporters of the mayor's rival."
Bongabong however denied this statement of the witness.
Yap was transferred to the Capitol University Medical City later in the day, and doctors said his condition remain sensitive as the bullet pierced into his lungs. He was to undergo a delicate operation Monday afternoon.
Police said they were still investigating the incident, which was the first known election-related violence in the province since the election seasoned opened.
Meanwhile, elections in Cagayan de Oro went smoothly, with no reported election-related incidents, said City Police Director Aurelio Trampe.
