President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has condemned the shooting of a 58-year-old engineer and contractor while on his way to a quarry site in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, Malacañang said yesterday.

“Tama lang po na imbestigahan iyan para malaman natin ang puno’t dulo niya. At kinukondena natin ang mga karahasan na ito. Iyan ay ayon sa Pangulo,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

The victim, identified as Angelito Mendoza, was shot by unidentified assailants while en route to a quarry site in Barangay San Francisco on Wednesday morning, August 27, according to reports.

Authorities have already identified persons of interest but declined to disclose their identities, pending the results of the ongoing investigation.

The incident happened amid an investigation into alleged anomalies in the government’s flood control projects.

Castro assured the public that there will be no harassment of persons involved in the implementation of projects under scrutiny, emphasizing the government’s commitment to a fair and just process.

“Alam naman natin kung ano ang nais ng Pangulo — makasuhan ang dapat makasuhan, mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot,” she said.

“At ipag-uutos pa rin ng Pangulo na dapat seryosohin ito lalo na ng PNP [Philippine National Police] para maiwasan kung anumang krimen ang maidudulot nito kaugnay sa pag-iimbestiga sa flood control projects.” (PNA)