KALINGA police are now on alert as they try to avert possible escalation of a tribal war following a shooting incident in Tinglayan, Kalinga on Tuesday, August 29.
According to a police blotter, a still unidentified suspect shot Art Truth Ewad, 27, farmer, member of Tinglayan tribe and resident of Ambato, Legleg, Poblacion, Tinglayan around 3:30 p.m., Tuesday.
The victim was rushed to the Tinglayan rural health unit for initial medical treatment but he was later referred to the Bontoc General Hospital for further observation after sustaining gunshot wound.
Police said the shooting incident is believed to have resulted from a failed boundary dispute negotiation between Tinglayan and Tulgao tribes.
With the alert, members of the Kalinga Provincial Public Safety Company were deployed to Sitio Maswa, Barangay Basao, Tinglyan to assist students who are Tinglayan tribe members in going home to Poblacion.
Tabuk police also heightened their alert in the area, urging residents who are members of both tribes to remain calm and avoid any further action that would escalate a tribal war in the area.
In Pudtol, Apayao, widower Emiliana Mariano Tuccalay died while her 17-year-old son was injured after they were shot by their neighbor in Barangay Malibang on Tuesday.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rodrigo Ducrao, 38, farmer, also a resident of Malibang, Pudtol.
Initial police investigation showed that, Tuccalay’s son who was allegedly armed with a bolo, went to the house of the suspect and tried to create trouble.
Her mother tried to pacify her son and the suspect from further engaging but Ducrao discharged his homemade shotgun and hit the mother and son, inflicting serious injuries on the different parts of their bodies.
The mother and son were rushed to the Far North General Hospital and Training Center for medical treatment.
Tuccalay died while undergoing medical treatment while her son was still undergoing medical supervision due to the multiple head and body injuries. (Roderick Osis)