Abduction, shooting mar barangay polls in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Police and military forces are tracking down gunmen who abducted Sunday an incumbent barangay captain in Lamitan City, Basilan in the eve of the election day, according to police official.

Still, the authorities described the election as generally peaceful as polling started early in most areas here.

The eve of the barangay election of Basilan was also greeted by gun slaying of a human resource officer of Sumisip town. The victim  identified as Murmin Hasan, 55, whose brother is reportedly running for barangay captain in Maluso town.

The victim, along with his wife, was buying food at Barangay Port Holland when the unidentified suspect emerged and fired several times killing the victim about 11:30a.m Sunday.

Police and military authorities identified the victim of abduction as Alrudi Kasim Jainul, an incumbent barangay chairman of Tandung Ahas, Lamitan City.

Lamitan City police commander Chief Inspector Almer Ismael said the victim was on board his jeep on his way to Isabela City when gunmen board a black colored van, backed with  twp motorcycles, blocked w the victims ay along the highway in Barangay Baluno, seclude area with lush of rubber trees plantation.

Ismael said the suspects, about six them, disembarked from their vehicles and seized Jainul and escaped toward the Isabela City proper.

Ismael said there has been no contact from the abductors yet.

However, Col. Carlito Galvez, Basilan military commander said authorities are looking on possible rivalry as the abducted village chief was tagged also as suspect in the previous shooting incident involving the number one village councilor who is now his top rival.

Meanwhile, the military said elections in the province went on generally peaful ce except on some areas were tension sparked among candidates and supporters.

Galvez said the shooting incidents occurred in the areas of Ungkaya Pukan, Tipo-Tipo and Tuburan towns but they have yet to determine who were the victims were.

“The problem is that some of the candidates were supported either by Abu Sayyaf or rogue rebel groups who were harassing the other candidates and their supporters,” Galvez said.

"So far there was no declaration of failure of election yet,” Galvez said.

Galvez said elections in Sumisip town, which waere the scene of the recent hostility between the government forces and the Abu Sayyaf and rogue rebel groups, were surprisingly peaceful.

The military official said they were building up the troops’ presence in all areas to avert untoward incident from breaking out during the polling.