Google map of Lantawan municipality, Basilan Island province.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two political supporters were killed while two others were wounded in a post-election ambush in the hinterlands of Basilan province, a top police official said Wednesday.
In a report, Col. Pedro Martirez, Basilan police director, said the incident transpired around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the village of Matikang in Lantawan town.
Martirez identified the slain victims as Omar Manasal, 37, and his wife, Nurmina, 39. Injured were Sandra Manasal, 45, and Benhad, 44, also both surnamed Manasal.
Manasal's group was in a convoy of vehicles traveling to Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province when a group of unidentified gunmen waylaid them.
Initial investigation said the victims are followers of Suhod Manasal, a former village councilor in Barangay Bagbagon of the municipality.
Manasal is a known supporter of the Ismael couple—Nursiya and Rustam—who were proclaimed Wednesday as winners in the town’s mayoralty and vice mayoralty race, respectively.
Martirez declined to comment if the incident is election-related, pending an ongoing investigation. (PNA)
