Mayor’s house strafed

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A town mayor in Basilan cheated death after gunmen strafed his house in Barangay Aguada, Isabela City Saturday night.

However, a relative of Maluso Mayor Sakib Salajin was killed. He was identified as Hadji Muin Kail.

Senior Inspector Gerry Bayabos, Basilan police operations chief, said the attackers are believed to be followers of a local town official, Isri Bud, whom Salajin has charged for allegedly molesting a female relative of his.

"The gunfire caused some residents, who were conducting a dry run for the celebration of Basilan Day, to panic, thinking it was an attack," he said.

Five armed followers of Bud went to Salajin’s house and fired at the occupants, killing Kail before Salajin and his security men could retaliate, he added. — Roel Pareño