3 killed, 2 hurt in Basilan encounter involving political party members

Three people died and two others were hurt in an encounter involving members of a political party in the waters of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan early Monday morning, Election Day, according to the police.

Basilan Police Provincial Office said the clash involved police officers, an armed group, and the convoy of mayoralty aspirant Jamar Mansul at around 1 a.m., according to GMA Integrated News’ JP Soriano's report.

The police were conducting a maritime patrol when they spotted a motorized pump boat with eight people on board. The authorities tried flagging down the boat but it did not stop.

Due to this, the police fired shots at the boat leading to the encounter.

No casualties were reported from the camp of the police. Mansul was also safe after the incident.

The wife of the mayoral aspirant, meanwhile, denied that her husband’s group were armed because they only went to the island to vote. 

According to her, the passengers of the boat were their relatives and poll watchers. She believes that the incident was an ambush by another armed group. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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