Candidate for councilor, 2 others hurt in gun attack in Isabela town

INVESTIGATION. Scene of the Crime Operatives carefully collect evidence from the pickup truck that was allegedly used by the gunmen who attacked a candidate for councilor and two others in San Pablo, Isabela on Friday, April 25. —Photo from the PNP Region 2

SAN PABLO, ISABELA — A candidate for councilor in this town and two others were wounded when repeatedly shot by two armed men at 9:40 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in Barangay (village) Bungad here, police said.

Wounded were Mark John Paul Tipon, 34, a candidate for councilor; Mark Francis Antonio, 25; and John Lloyd Duran, 21, police report said Saturday, April 26.

The three, all from Barangay Poblacion in this town, were initially brought to the Milagros Albano District Hospital but were later transferred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center due to their serious injuries.

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Police Brigadier General Antonio Marallag Jr., Cagayan Valley regional police director, said the two shooters were arrested in a follow-up operation at about 11:10 p.m., also on Friday, at the town proper of the municipality.

The two suspects, whose names were not disclosed, were caught in possession of a .45 caliber handgun with seven bullets, a .45 caliber magazine with seven bullets, a gun holster, four .45 caliber bullets, and a fan knife.

Police also seized from them a pickup truck allegedly used in the crime.

Prior to the suspects’ arrest, the San Pablo police, the 1st Isabela Provincial Mobile Force Company and the 201st Maneuver Company ng Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 had established “high-risk checkpoints” and engaged in pursuit operations.

The motive of the shooting was still unknown, said the police.