Basilan map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – The festive mood of the Islamic rite of “paggunting,” the equivalent of Christian baptism, turned bloody when a lone gunman opened fire at those in the event, killing one and wounding five others.
Col. Arlan Delumpines, chief of the Lamitan City Police Station in Basilan province, said the shooting occurred at around 10 p.m. on Friday, June 2, at Barangay Bohe Bessey, some 25 kilometers away from the city proper.
“There was this baptismal rite in Islam, one of the children of Jimron Baul was baptized when the suspect stormed the place and started shooting,” Delumpines said.
He identified the suspect as Arman Misa, a resident of the same barangay.
One of Baul’s guests, identified as Amilhassan Muro Asbito, 56, of Barangay Badjah in Tipo-Tipo town, died on the spot.
Five other guests, mostly minors, identified as Arhman Daang, 16, Nurhaina Anong, 12, Salman Marquez, 14, Hasima Daang, 12, and Rahiya Alim, 27, sustained bullet wounds.
According to Delumpines, Asbita sustained multiple wounds from M16 rifle shots.
The suspect fled immediately to nearby Barangay Bohe Ibu, Delumpines said.
A police manhunt was launched with the help of other security forces in the area.
Delumpines said they were still investigating Misa’s motive in attacking the baptismal rites.