In a shocking turn of events, authorities in the Philippines are delving into the shooting of Gladden Lim, a 48-year-old independent candidate for Sarangani governor, and the brutal ambush that claimed the life of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer. The incidents, which occurred on the same night, have sparked a flurry of investigations across two regions.
Lim was critically injured after being shot twice in the abdomen and body by a .45-caliber pistol while inside the Seventh-Day Adventist Church compound in General Santos City. The attack took place as Lim was preparing to leave after attending church services. Captain Miguel Angelo Quidilla of the General Santos City Police Station 4 reported that the assailant escaped on a motorbike, but police have obtained CCTV footage and witness statements to aid their investigation.
Quidilla mentioned that the police are exploring various motives behind the attack on Lim, including election-related issues, personal vendettas, and disputes over land. Lim, who also serves on the board of directors for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, is running against incumbent Governor Rogelio Pacquiao and Mohammad Acquia in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
Pastor Elmer Romano, from the church’s Public Affairs and Legal Relations, denounced the attack and called for swift justice. Meanwhile, in a separate but equally disturbing incident, assistant election officer Janeco Allan Pandoy was ambushed and killed in President Quirino town, Sultan Kudarat. Pandoy was shot in the head by two men on a motorbike while riding home along the national highway.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Pandoy was pronounced dead on arrival. Romie Gallo, the Comelec election officer in Isulan, condemned the killing and urged for the quick identification and prosecution of the perpetrators. Authorities are currently investigating whether the attack on Pandoy was related to his work or stemmed from personal conflicts.