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Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Cordillera transport officer shot, in critical condition (10:15 a.m.)
By Harley Palangchao
BAGUIO--The assistant director of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in the Cordilleras was rushed to the hospital in critical condition Tuesday night, after he was shot four times in front of his own house in Sanitary Camp at around 6:45 p.m.
Sources said that two gunmen on a motorcycle assistant director Roberto Fernando on his leg, stomach, right chest and right arm before fleeing from the area.
Fernando was immediately brought to the nearby Pines City Doctors Hospital nearby. He was still being treated at the emergency room as of Tuesday night.
Sources said Fernando earlier received death threats from still unidentified callers for still undetermined reasons. The same sources, however, surmised the death threats might be job-related.
Supt. Isagani Nerez, newly installed director of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), said in a telephone interview that they are investigating the shooting incident.
Nerez, who vowed to lead the investigation of high-profile crimes on Tuesday, said he ordered his men to resolve the case immediately.
DOTC-Cordillera Director Alfredo Mondiguing said he could not give any official statement yet, as he has yet to be apprised about the incident, when contacted for comment. Mondiguing was in Cagayan de Oro for an official trip.
Fernando, also a local coordinator of the Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement (FPJPM), was supposed to be part of the motorcade of three senatorial candidates running under the party of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. in Baguio Wednesdat.
Nicolas 'Bong' Cawed, FPJPM coordinator for the Cordilleras, said he learned that Fernando was shot at about the same time that he (Cawed) was about to call the assistant DOTC director to inform him of the motorcade.
Cawed said Fernando was supposed to be one of the escorts of senatorial bets Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Boots Anson Roa during their motorcade in the city and nearby Benguet province Wednesday. |
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