The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) promised to look into the shooting incident that happened on Tuesday, April 19, in Quezon, Bukidnon.
Five armed men opened fire on Presidential candidate Leody De Guzman during his dialogue with leaders of the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe, who approached him regarding a land-grabbing issue.
Five people, including a supporter of De Guzman, suffered injuries due to the shooting incident.
"Kung iyan ay election-related, count the COMELEC in. We will definitely investigate, we will prosecute at hindi kami papayag na basta -basta ganito na lamang," COMELEC commissioner George Garcia said on Tuesday during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Maayos na ginagawa ang isang pagtitipon tapos biglang may mga ganoong klase na, sa ating palagay, ay tahasang pagwa-walang hiya sa isang demokratikong pagtitipon," Garcia added.
De Guzman and his supporters said that their assailants used shotgun and M16 rifles.
The incident happened at a portion of land in Brgy. Butong, Quezon claimed by the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe as part of their ancestral domain, and occupied by a company with alleged links to Quezon mayor Pablo Lorenzo III.
"Kung iyan ay part ng pangangampanya tapos ginulo nila, something went wrong and something is actionable dito," Garcia said.
"Kahit pa sinasabi nila na may issue maliban sa eleksyon. just the same, nandoon, present ang isang Presidential candidate, and, therefore, anuman ang sabihin nila ay part yung ng isang pangangampanya," he added.
Garcia stressed that the Philippines currently enforces a ban on the carrying of firearms, and the employment of security personnel.
In a statement on Tuesday, COMELEC chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan also condemned and promised to investigate the shooting incidents in Bukidnon and Lanao.
