A closer look at the damage sustained by the patrol car escorting Jack Enrile who is running under the UNA ticket. The 7-car convoy of Enrile was reported to have been fired at by still unidentified individuals in Mawab, Compostela Valley around 3pm Tuesday, March 19 while the group was on its way to Tagum City from Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

DAVAO CITY – The provincial command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Compostela Valley is pursuing the possibility that the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were responsible for firing upon the convoy of senatorial bet Jack Enrile in Mawab town on Tuesday, March 19. 

This was confirmed to the Manila Bulletin by Police Senior Supt.  Camilo Cascolan, the PNP provincial director in Compostela Valley.

In a phone interview, Cascolan said that at around 3:15 PM on March 19, 2013, while the convoy of Enrile was traversing Sitio Banga in Barangay Sawangan, Mawab town, police personnel on board the chase patrol car heard a single shot of undetermined firearm.

The police said the shot was fired from the direction of the mountainous side of the national highway.

Upon investigation conducted in Tagum City, the police found out that the patrol car was hit by a single bullet at the front passenger side particularly near the door knob of the vehicle.

The police even recovered what they believed as part of the slug.

Cascolan also confirmed that based on their investigation, one of the probable groups responsible for the incident is the New People’s Army (NPA).

“That area where the incident took place is noted where the NPAs usually mount check points”, Cascolan said to the Manila Bulletin.

He also added that his command is also not discounting that other groups or individuals might be responsible for the incident.

The provincial police in Compostela Valley is still conducting an in-depth investigation of the incident.

Senatorial candidates under the UNA ticket were conducting their campaign sorties in Compostela Valley on Tuesday.