PUERTO PRINCESA CITY–Two person were killed, including a local municipal official, and at least six were reported wounded in a shootout late Friday night between supporters of two mayoral candidates in the southern municipality of Bataraza.
The Philippine National Police provincial command also said an undetermined number of armed supporters of the opposing candidates have been held in custody.
The fatalities were identified as Alrazid Balidin, the secretary of the Bataraza municipal council, and Myra Ossop Bazari, 16, and daughter of a local village councilor.
PNP provincial spokesperson Inspector Pearl Lamban Marzo said the shooting happened at 11:45 p.m. in the village of Igang-Igang, Bataraza between supporters of mayoral candidates Katrina Ibba and Mulzinin Abdurajik.
Both camps had accused each other of initiating the shooting, in separate local radio interviews.
Marzo said the PNP has recovered spent high caliber firearms shells in the area of the shooting.
“We are still completing our investigation and we will determine whether to recommend that Bataraza be placed under Comelec control,” Marzo said.