Police are now tracking down a man who allegedly attacked a policeman in the far-flung village of Owacan in Jimalalud, Negros Oriental shortly after noon Monday at the height of the barangay elections.
This is the first election-related violent incident in Negros Oriental.
Supt. Alet Virtucio, provincial police director, in an initial report, said that a certain Ryan Gantalao Sarabia allegedly attacked Police Officer 1 Virgilio Berang-berang around 12:05 p.m. Monday at a polling center in Owacan.
According to reports reaching Supt. Virtucio, the suspect and another unidentified person, both allegedly supporting opposing candidates, were engaged in a squabble when PO1 Berang-berang pacified them.
However, Sarabia allegedly attacked the policeman instead with a knife, prompting Berang-berang to fire at the suspect.
Sarabia, however, was not hit but fled the scene immediately with the aid of his relatives and is believed to in Guihulngan City.
Supt. Virtucio has directed the police to arrest the suspect and file proper criminal charges against him, specifically violation of the Commission on Elections ban against firearms and deadly weapons as well as direct assault on a person of authority. (PNA)
