Armed men attack Isabela town hall

SAN MARIANO, Isabela — Fifteen fully armed men swooped down on the municipal hall here late Tuesday night, fatally shot one policeman and wounded another, burned the office of the local election officer and snatched ballot boxes, police said.

Senior Inspector Rodel Pastor, this town’s police chief, said the unidentified men arrived at the town hall on board a red Tamaraw FX and Ford Ranger, both unlicensed, and were armed with M-14 and M-16 rifles and Uzi machine pistols.

Witnesses said the armed men forced themselves inside the municipal hall, proceeded to the second floor and shot it out with PO3 Manuel Artuz and SPO3 Efren Tamang.

Artuz, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, and Tamang, who was wounded, were providing security to the municipal board of canvassers.

Upon hearing the gunfire, the members of the board of canvassers escaped from the town hall by jumping out of windows and bringing with them several copies of the election returns.

Pastor said the attackers poured gasoline inside the office of the municipal election officer on the third floor, and then burned ballot boxes containing election returns still uncanvassed.

The armed men left with six ballot boxes and several tally sheets.

Two hours after the incident, the same armed group raided the town hall of Jones, burning several election returns and threatened members of the municipal board of canvassers with harm if they would proceed with the canvassing.

Elements of the 1st Provincial Mobile Group and the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion are tracking down the attackers.

Senior Superintendent Nelson Nario, provincial police director, also ordered the setting up of checkpoints in the towns of Benito Soliven, Naguillian, Echague and San Agustin to thwart similar attacks. — With Charlie Lagasca, Pia Lee-Brago and Jose Aravilla