Gunmen kill 6, burn houses in Basilan rampage

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Six persons, including a 13-year old boy, were killed when armed men attacked the village of Tubigan in Maluso, Basilan, on Monday morning.

Eleven others, who sustained gunshot wounds, were rushed to different hospitals in Isabela City.

Chief Inspector John Cundo, Maluso police station chief, said an undetermined number of armed men attacked Tubigan at 5 a.m. and started burning houses.

At least four houses were razed.

The armed men also burned the barangay health center.

Cundo said hundreds of families had evacuated.

Initial police investigation identified those killed as militiaman Reynaldo Esparcia, Tadzma Atakani, 13-year old Martin Jalad, Dadang Hassan, Ajid Aminulla, and Carmina dela Cruz.

“We are investigating,” Cundo said, adding that they had yet to identify the attackers. CBB