Basilan election officer shot and wounded

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Gunmen on a motorcycle shot and critically wounded the election officer of Isabela City in Basilan Saturday afternoon, the police said.

Senior Superintendent Allan Nazarro, Isabela City police director, said Daryll Kinazo, 45, was driving his motorcycle from Isabela City to Lamitan when two men, riding in tandem on another motorbike, shot him in Barangay (village) Baluno around 3 p.m.

Nazarro said the gunmen sped off toward Lamitan as Kinazo slumped on the pavement after crashing his motorcycle.

The election officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of the body and rushed to the Basilan Community Hospital, he said.

“But due to the severity of his condition, he was later evacuated to Zamboanga Cuty for further medical treatment,” Nazarro said.

He said the police were still trying to determine motive and identities of Kinazo’s attackers.

Kinazo was the second Comelec official in Basilan targeted for assassination.

In October 2010, Estong Musa, the Tuburan town election officer was shot and killed in Isabela City by unidentified gunmen.