Tangub shooting wounds congress, vice guv bets

AN unidentified gunman fired a shot at the Christmas party of the PDP-Laban and Asenso Ozamiz political party in Misamis Occidental wounding two of its prominent candidates yesterday night.

Police said Jason Almonte, former mayor of Oroquieta City, and Lopez Jaena town Mayor Michael Gutierrez were rushed to the hospital after sustaining injuries.

Almonte is the congressional aspirant for the 1st District of Misamis Occidental and Gutierrez is running for vice-governor under the PDP-Laban and Asenso Ozamiz political party.

Police investigator Deony Dale Alviar said Almonte sustained a minor injury on his nape while Gutierrez is placed under medical observation in the Misamis University Medical Center in Ozamiz City.

Alviar said Gutierrez was later transferred to MHARS General Hospital for further medical care.

“Desperate moves. My father, Cong. Henry is Okay. My brother, Atty. Indy and the other team members are also safe,” said Ozamiz City Mayor Ando Oaminal, son of Rep. Henry Oaminal (2nd district, Misamis Occidental).

Alviar said a lone gunshot was heard while Oaminal and the rest of the PDP-Laban and Asenso Ozamiz party members were partying at the AiA gas station owned by the Oaminals in Sitio Pulao, Brgy VII, Tangub City at around 8:45 pm Wednesday.

He said the “bullet hit the frame of the glass door” and splintered.

“A splinter hit the nape of Almonte while the bullet slug hit the left temple and exited in the nape of Mayor Gutierrez,” Alviar said in his report.

Fructouso Paredes, an uncle of Almonte said his nephew had just finished speaking to his party mates and had been seated when the shot was heard.

Paredes said the security men of Oaminal quickly put out the lights and covered Almonte and the rest of the guests with tablecloths to hide their faces.

The Asenso Ozamiz of the Oaminals is running against Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan of the National Unity Party for the major elective posts in Misamis Occidental.