A PREDAWN boat clash hours before elections began on Monday left three people, including a poll watcher, dead while two others were wounded in Basilan.
Police identified the fatalities as poll watcher Murasidul Kidong Abduarahman and supporters Samier Allil Jamiri and Ben Bakil.
The three were aboard a motorboat with mayoral candidate Jamar Mansul’s convoy when attacked by armed men on another boat near Sangbay Big Island off Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan at about 1:45 a.m. Monday.
The wounded were supporters Haber and Zaldy Alih. They were brought to a hospital for treatment.
Police chief Maj. Nursaibar Mahadi said his seaborne patrol team engaged in a gunfight eight armed men who refused to stop for inspection.
“They suddenly opened fire, prompting our team to retaliate in a five-minute firefight,” he reported, noting three attackers jumped overboard.
Mansul, who served as mayor of Hadji Muhtamad from 2013 to 2019 and one of three candidates, landed unharmed.
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