The reelected punong barangay of Pajo in Lambunao, Iloilo was unharmed after his car was peppered with bullets on Monday night, Oct. 30.
Renato Lebuna and his wife, Jona, and two poll watchers were on their way home on board a gray Isuzu Crosswind when a suspect fired at the vehicle around 10:50 p.m.
“Nabati-an ko ang asud-asud nga lupok sang pusil. Si misis ara sa right side, hambal ko hapa, hapa kamo tanan pero sige drive ko,” Lebuna recounted.
“Si misis gahibi kag ang duha ko ka poll watchers nalipong sa kakulba. Sige lang ako maniho asta maglab-ot diri sa balay,” he added.
According to Major Jojen Suegay, Lambunao Municipal Police Station chief, the car had seven bullet holes.
Lebuna’s wife and the poll watchers were also unscathed.
In a radio interview, Lebuna claimed that the ambush was staged by Dioscoro Lozada Jr., his opponent in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
“Kita ko gid eh kay rapit kami sa streetlight paglupok.Ang kontra ko gid sa pagkapunong barangay,” he said.
“Si [Lozada] maisog diya kag dali mag-init ang ulo. Siguro indi niya mabaton nga sangkapierdihan na kay daku ang abanse,” Lebuna said.
Lozada denied Lebuna’s accusations, saying that he’s not capable of doing so.
“Wala ko ya armas. Diin ko ya makuha armas? Kon ako ginahan-an niya, ti padakup na ko eh kay diri malang ko sa balay. Waay tana sa batasan ko ang magtraidor,” he said.
The police station is conducting further investigation into the incident.IMT
