SHOOTOUT. A policeman examines the pieces of evidence seized from two illegal drug traders killed in a shootout Tuesday (Aug. 23, 2022) in the town of Akbar, Basilan province. The shootout ensued when one of the two suspects allegedly pulled a handgun and opened fire upon sensing they were transacting with undercover policemen. (Photo courtesy of the Basilan Police Provincial Office) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two alleged illegal drug traders were killed in a shootout at sea with joint police and military authorities in Basilan province, a top police official said Wednesday. Colonel Pedro Martirez Jr., Basilan police director, identified the slain suspects as Macsud Cuevas, 45, a resident of Barangay Bohelebong, Tipo Tipo, and Dasman Kilala, a resident of Bubuan Island, Tabuan Lasa. Martirez said the two were killed in a shootout at sea around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday off Barangay Semut, Akbar, Basilan province. The shootout ensued when Cuevas allegedly pulled out a .45-caliber pistol and opened fire
Google map of Lantawan municipality, Basilan Island province. ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two political supporters were killed while two others were wounded in a post-election ambush in the hinterlands of Basilan province, a top police official said Wednesday. In a report, Col. Pedro Martirez, Basilan police director, said the incident transpired around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the village of Matikang in Lantawan town. Martirez identified the slain victims as Omar Manasal, 37, and his wife, Nurmina, 39. Injured were Sandra Manasal, 45, and Benhad, 44, also both surnamed Manasal. Manasal's group was in a convoy of vehicles traveling to Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province when a group of unidentified gunmen waylaid them. Initial investigation said the victims are followers of Suhod Manasal, a former village councilor in Barangay Bagbagon of the municipality. Manasal is a known supporter of the Ismael couple-Nursiya and Rustam-who were proclaimed Wednesday as winners in the town's mayo
Google map of Tabuan Lasa town in Basilan province. The town comprises four islands, namely, Tapiantana, Bubuan, Lanawan, and Saluping. ISABELA CITY, Basilan - Voters scampered for safety as gunmen from two opposing parties clashed an hour after polling precincts opened here Monday for the national and local elections. Col. Pedro Martirez, Basilan police director, said the encounter broke out around 7 a.m. in Barangay Boloh-Boloh in the island town of Tabuan Lasa. Martirez said the gunfight ensued after supporters of Boloh-Boloh Barangay Chairperson Jahid Abbas and Alfad Farouck, a candidate for municipal councilor, crossed paths at the village's public elementary school. "The report disclosed that the group of Alfad Farouck was the first to open fire, prompting the camp of Jahid Abbas to fire back," Martirez said. No casualty was reported in both camps during the clash that lasted for about two minutes, he said, adding police had to intervene to stop the fighting. Elsewh
ISABELA CITY, Basilan - One died while five others were wounded when unidentified gunmen shot at a group of voters in Tabuan Lasa municipality as they were coming out of a polling center Monday afternoon. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, identified the fatality as Ricardo Fabian, 52, who was killed on the spot. Wounded were Andy Reyes Jr., 30; Narrudin Gadjali, 29; Alnasri Jammang, 29; Bol Madjalis, 48; and Hakim Munib, 38. The victims had just emerged from the polling center in Barangay Tong-Umus, Tapiantana Island, Tabuan Lasa, when the suspects shot them with high-powered firearms at around 2 p.m. Police said they have yet to ascertain the identities of the suspects, who were hiding in houses located near the polling center during the incident. "The gunmen just waited for us to leave the place and started shooting the victims," Col. Pedro Martirez, Basilan police director, said. Martirez said the suspects fled before the responding JTF-B
ZAMBOANGA CITY -Some 600 individuals, including local candidates, have joined the unity walk and peace covenant signing Thursday in Lamitan City, Basilan. The activity, which was initiated by Maj. Nurhaib Bungkac, Lamitan police chief, is in support of the efforts at making the May 9 polls safe, peaceful, and orderly. The unity walk started around 8:30 a.m. from Datu Kalun Park downtown to the city coliseum followed by a simple program. The signing of the peace covenant and manifesto by local candidates and other stakeholders for the 2022 National and Local Elections Integrity Pledge and Pledge of Commitment highlighted the unity walk. "The event was similar to a blood compact, which requires parties to respect the agreement regardless of the circumstances," Bungkac said in a statement. The covenant signing indicated that candidates agreed to refrain from any actions that could threaten the ballot's sanctity; to promote a safe, clean, healthy, and wholesome environment du