KIDAPAWAN CITY— Local police say a supporter of an incumbent lawmaker died while his companion was wounded in a strafing incident that occurred at 1:05 a.m. Monday, the first reported Election Dday violence.
Superintendent Chino Mamburam, the city police director identified the fatality as Johnny Magbanua, 28, single and resident of Barangay (village) Meohao this city. Leo Laguindanom was injured, he was in safe condition at the Kidapawan City Doctors’ Hospital Inc, Mamburam said. Magbanua’s group was reportedly chasing a white multicab with supporters of Rep. Bernardo Piñol’s rival congressional bet Nancy Catamco when unidentified men staffed them. Nancy’s camp was allegedly spreading black propaganda materials against Piñol.
Piñol’s supporters, on the other hand, were following Catamco's group and they were collecting black propaganda materials when the attack hapened. “This is the first election [day] related violence that occurred in Kidapawan," Mamburam said. Police investigators recovered two empty shells and slugs of a cal-.45 pistol from the crime site. Catamco is the president of NCTV cable and running as 2nd district Representative under the administration Lakas-Kampi. Piñol is seeking reelection under the banner of the Liberal Party. — Williamor Magbanua/LBG/RSJ
