Ex-mayoralty bet claims accidental shooting during alleged attack

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A former mayoral candidate from Mina, Iloilo, was wounded after he claimed to have accidentally shot himself early on the morning of August 31.

Teodoro Camarista, 66, of Barangay Tolarucan, Mina, told police investigators that his .45-caliber pistol discharged while he was changing the magazine.

According to Camarista, he and his live-in partner, Cristy, were sleeping in a resthouse located inside his poultry farm in Barangay Amiroy, Mina, when an unidentified person allegedly broke in around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The intruder reportedly fired at the area where they were sleeping.

Camarista said this prompted him to grab his gun and fire back. However, as he was changing the magazine, the gun accidentally went off, and the bullet hit his left foot.

The victim was taken to Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan for treatment.

Captain Ma. Rosario Miranda, Mina police chief, stated that Camarista’s injury was minor, and he did not require hospitalization.

The incident was reported to the police around 3:20 a.m., about 50 minutes after the alleged shooting occurred.

Camarista’s partner informed the police about the incident after getting out of their vehicle while he stayed inside.

Miranda said they immediately investigated the reported crime scene and recovered fired cartridges from a 12-gauge shotgun and 9mm and .45-caliber pistols at the house’s terrace, hallway, and bedroom.

It was noted that, aside from the couple, some poultry workers also live on the farm.

As the investigation progressed, Miranda said they could not yet confirm whether the strafing or shooting incident actually took place.

“What we have right now is the statement of Mr. Camarista,” she said.

Residents reported hearing gunfire but did not see anyone due to the darkness.

Members of the PNP Forensic Unit were called in to further investigate the incident.

Politics

In a radio interview, Camarista suggested the possibility that the incident could be politically motivated.

He recalled running for mayor in 2022 against Lydia Grabato, Jose Charlie Parayray, and Juliet Sobrevega. Grabato won the mayoral race.

Camarista also mentioned that he might run for an elective post in the 2025 midterm elections.

However, Miranda stated that they could not comment on whether the incident was politically motivated since they have yet to establish that the shooting actually occurred.

She also noted that candidates have not yet filed their certificates of candidacy.