4 dead, 4 hurt in Ilocos Sur, Lanao Sur incidents

Four people were killed and four others were wounded in separate election-related violent incidents in Ilocos Sur and Lanao del Sur yesterday.

The Ilocos Sur office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that supporters of Cervantes Mayor Benjamin Maggay and Vice Mayor Rufino Amilao, who is now gunning for the mayorship, figured in a gunfight before dawn in Barangay Malaya yesterday.

Killed were Efren Bal-isen and Marcon Amilao, both from Amilao‘s group, and a still unidentified man. Wounded were Romeo Amilao, a son of the vice mayor, and William Amilao, a relative.

Gines said Army soldiers have been fielded in poll "hot spots" in Ilocos Sur, particularly the towns of Bantay, Narvacan and Sta. Maria.

Four other towns — Sta. Lucia, Banayoyo, Cabugao and Sinait — are considered "areas of immediate concern."

In Lanao del Sur, a security escort of Mayor Ali Basher Andaman of Pualas town was killed and two others were wounded when they were ambushed along the national highway.

Chief Superintendent Isnaji Bantala, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police, said Andaman’s group was cruising Barangay Basagad when they were fired upon.

Andaman was unhurt but his bodyguard, Sansarona Bansalagan, 27, was killed on the spot. Two other escorts, Abdul Nasser Bonsalagan and Esmail Calauto, were hurt.

Bantala said additional policemen have been fielded in Pualas to defuse tension arising from the intense political rivalry there.

He said he has recommended that Pualas as well as the towns of Butig Bacolod-Kalawi and Calanugas, all in Lanao del Sur, be placed under Comelec control.

The ambush of Andaman was the second poll-related violent incident recorded in the run-up to tomorrow’s elections.

A few weeks ago, Madid Ali, 17-year-old son of Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali, was stabbed dead during a political rally.