2 village watchmen slain in gun attack in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Two village watchmen in Basilan province were killed in an ambush on Saturday morning in Ungkaya Pukan town.

Former Ungkaya Pukan mayor Joel Maturan said the village watchmen of Barangay Bohe Suyak were ambushed in Sitio Dekdep as they were on their way to attend the wedding of a family member.

Maturan added that those killed were associated with the newly-elected village chief of Bohe Suyak.

Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, said that it was not an ambush but a confirmed shooting at 8:50 a.m. that left two dead.

Citing the accounts of locals, Luzon said three armed men attacked Saddam Immuh, 35, and Muhal Palluh, 29, who were riding a black motorcycle.

Immuh and Palluh sustained multiple gunshot wounds, resulting in their immediate deaths, Luzon said.

“The victims were going to Barangay Tongbato to attend a wedding celebration of the Mottoh family. According to the statement of Amil Palluh, a witness to the incident, a certain Akbar Asalim together with two unidentified perpetrators fired towards the victims using an M16 rifle,” Luzon said, citing reports from their ground unit.

The shooting is believed to be rooted in an unresolved rido or clan feud.

The police have commenced an investigation, with the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion deploying a platoon to the area for security and assistance in the investigation and any potential pursuit operations.