CABANATUAN CITY – Tension gripped this city after the house of an influential village head was strafed by still unidentified suspects before dawn on Monday, an incident that some quarters would easily link to the heightened campaign on the highly urbanization bid here.
But Supt. Eli Depra, city police chief, refused to state any possible motive behind the strafing on the residence of Roger Pascual, 50, chairman of Barangay Camp Tinio here at about 1:15, a.m.
“We cannot speculate,” Depra said in response to queries on the angle of the incident.
Investigation conducted by the operatives from the city police and scene of the crime operatives showed that “Pascual, together with his family were sleeping inside their house when they were awakened by a noise from a burst of gunfire.”
Investigators found several bullet holes on the gate and an SUV (RAE-705).
No one was hurt in the attack, Depra said.
Depra said they recovered ten spent shells for M-16 Armalite rifles and three metal fragments which are now under custody of SOCO, he added.
Pascual said he had no known enemies.
“Wala naman akong kaaway dito. Ang tangi ko lang kasalanan siguro dito, ako’y naninidigan sa ipinaglalaban namin na ang lungsod ng Cabanatuan ay umunlad,” Pascual told the media, referring to the bid of this city to become highly urbanized.
Pascual said he was one of 72 village heads who, based on a recent meeting with city officials, firmly stand for HUC conversion. This city has 98 barangays.
Third Dist. Board Member Anthony Emmanuel Umali who leads the campaign against the HUC bid, however, said they also puzzled with the incident. A son-in-law of Pascual, he said, is on his side.
“Meaning pasunuran na ito sa paglipat sa amin. Nasa amin ang panig ng pamilya,” Umali said. “Pakana ng desperado ‘yan, hindi kami desperado,” he added.
Pascual said the voting population of his village is about 7,000, enough to sway votes from other villages.
He expressed belief the attack was meant to harass him but said his stand will never change. “Pag ang Pascual ang nanindigan, hanggang kamatayan,” he said.
His patriarch, Reynaldo, and a brother, Jack, also headed Camp Tinio.
Reynaldo who also serve as head of the association of barangay captains died of illness while Jack was killed during his incumbency.
Umali maintained violence was not their brand of politics.
