4 hurt as political campaign heats up in Lanao Norte town

ILIGAN CITY — Four persons were wounded when supporters of two mayoral candidates in Salvador town in Lanao del Norte started shooting each other past 10 a.m. on Wednesday in front of the town hall.

Police Major Glyndo Pujanes, chief of the Salvador town police, said the wounded persons belonged to the town’s two rival political groups which have a long-standing political feud.

Two of the victims were supporters of Farhanie Ampaso Tawantawan, who is running for mayor under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – Hugpong Ng Pagbabago, while the other two were followers of Bebot Umpa, who is also running for mayor under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban).

Pujanes said Umpa’s group was in a convoy passing by the town hall, shouting, “Bebot! Bebot!” when Tawantawan’s supporters along the highway responded with shouting, which started the heated exchange and the commotion that ended with the exchange of gunfire.

The Umpa and Tawantawan families have been known political rivals in Salvador.

Tawantawan is the wife of the Salvador mayor, who won against Umpa in the 2016 elections.

During the 2016 election campaign, the two groups were also involved in a gunfight that resulted in the death of Umpa’s mother.

The case is pending in court./lzb