Land row eyed in shooting of Pacman aide

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines  – Police are eyeing a land dispute behind the shooting of an aide of boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao here on Tuesday afternoon.

Superintendent Aniceto Ambay, city police chief, said 47-year-old Abdulwahid Diaman Bualan, who is helping Pacquiao in his congressional tasks in Sarangani, was attacked by motorcycle-riding armed men minutes after he had left the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here.

A DENR employee confirmed that Bualan went to their office to talk to one of their officials, although he was not aware of what they discussed.

The employee, who requested anonymity, said Bualan was standing beside his car when a motorcycle stopped a few meters away from him and one of the riders drew a caliber .45 pistol and shot him twice.

Bualan was hit in the right arm and was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him “out of danger.”

Ambay said he has provided Bualan with police security.