Conflict among supporters ‘triggered’ Santander shooting

The police have initially assessed that the shooting incident in Santander, south Cebu involving a campaign vehicle driver was triggered by a conflict among political supporters.

Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Director Engelbert Soriano revealed this in an interview yesterday, Sunday.

The campaign vehicle driver identified as Rad Andrade was shot at around 4:15 p.m. of Friday in Barangay Talisay,

Santander town.

Initial investigation said that Andrade was driving a campaign vehicle when a brown Toyota Vios overtook it, and one of its passengers shot Andrade.

According to Soriano, the driver was not an employee of the municipality.

"Ang trabaho niya when he was shot ay yung nagiikot ba yung ronda, yung mga sound system sa sasakyan, umiikot sa bayan na saksakyan na nagkakampanya," he said.

“May mga (pictures) siya doon na mga Migs Zubiri, and the incumbent, may mga tarpaulins siya doon sa sasakyan,” he added. Initial investigation revealed that the victim was caught in an argument with other supporters.

According to Soriano, this is what they are currently looking at as possible motive of the shooting. As of Saturday, Soriano said that the victim is now out of danger.

In line with this, Soriano said they cannot categorize the incident as election-related, despite having the victim driving a campaign vehicle when he was shot.

"Pero he is neither an employee of the government or a candidate kaya hindi po namin macategorize as electionrelated po ito, siguro mga supporters na nagkainitan lang, ito yung tinitignan namin," said Soriano.

Over this, Soriano said that the investigators are also tracing the possible individuals that the victim caught in conflict with.

Over this, Soriano also said that as law enforcement whose mandate is to remain non-partisan, they assured the political aspirants that they will provide a fair playing field.

The said vehicle had pictures of Governor Gwen Garcia and Provincial Board Member Tata Salvador who is running for congressman in the 2nd District of Cebu province, according to Police Staff Sergeant Dante Deniega, investigator¬ on case.