AT least three persons were killed, while two others were hurt in what police claimed was an encounter involving cops and members of an alleged private army identified with a mayoralty candidate in Basilan.
In a belated report, the Basilan Provincial Police Office said the incident occured in the waters of Hadji Muhtamad around 1:00 in the morning of the election day.
Reports reaching Camp Crame showed that the cops who were on a maritime patrol allegedly tried to flag a motorized boat with eight people on board. But instead of stopping, the boat sped off forcing the cops to fire warning shots for which the suspects retaliated, resulting in an encounter.
Five of the eight men on board the boat were hit. After trading shots, three were killed while two others were wounded. They were later identified as members of mayoralty candidate Jamar Mansul’s political group.
No casualties were reported among the policemen.
Meanwhile, Mansul’s wife insisted that what happened was an ambush, even as she claimed that the group with whom the cops traded shots are their relatives and poll watchers.
In a related development, a child was injured by a stray bullet in Davao Region.
“Merong nagpaputok ng baril…buhay naman po yung bata,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia.
Also in Mindanao, a riot sparked in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City. The melee involved protagonists from opposing political camps, compelling the local election board to temporarily halt the election proceedings.
The commotion ceased after joint elements from the police and the military arrived.