DAVAO CITY (May 16)– The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will intensify the security measures in Barangay 23-C even after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election is over.
DCPO director Sr. Supt. Alexander during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing, said there are unverified information on a possible “rido” or clan war as a result of the recent election.
“We are not in control of the mind of these people. So, always, we will not discount any possibilities and that is the reason why we are maintaining our alert level,” he said.
Tagum revealed there are still police operatives deployed in the area to ensure the security of the people. “I would like to warn all those persons who are planning to make trouble in Barangay 23-C, not to continue with it because we will secure the area,” he said.
The police, according to Tagum, is still investigating the heated altercation last Saturday, as none from the warring parties admitted carrying firearms when the commotion ensued which resulted to the shooting incident.
“Both contending parties denied that the shooting did not came from their respective groups because what happened according to them was a word war followed by mauling but allegedly the shooting came outside their group,” he said.
Tagum said the police also had a hard time in identifying the alleged perpetrator because the people in the community were not cooperative.
He, however assured the investigators will come up with a result on who really perpetrated the trouble on that day.
On May 12, the supporters of re-elected Barangay Captain Allimodin Usman and former Barangay Captain Amil Bangsa Manding clashed.
Witnessed told police authorities, successive gun fires were heard from unknown directions that injured Alcon Ebrahim, 48, who was just passing by; Alibaser Cabuntalan,34, a supporter of Manding who sustained a gunshot wound on his left foot and Abdul Amar Asis, 29, supporter of Usman who sustained a stab wound on his back.
The police considered the incident as election related since it happened two nights before the synchronized barangay and SK elections.
On Sunday afternoon, May 13, both parties met with the Commission on Election (Comelec), Sta. Ana Police Station and Task Force Davao for a possible agreement to prevent similar incident.
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The barangay was placed under election Watchlist area category 1 as recommended by DCPO due to the intense political rivalry. -Armando B. Fenequito Jr. /NewsLine.ph
