ISABELA CITY – Three people, including a poll watcher, were killed while two others were wounded in a pre-dawn boat clash near Hadji Muhtamad town Monday, hours before elections began.
Police chief Maj. Nursaibar Mahadi said his seaborne patrol team engaged eight armed men aboard a motorized boat who refused to stop for inspection.
“They suddenly opened fire, prompting our team to retaliate in a five-minute firefight,” he said, noting three attackers jumped overboard.
The fatalities – poll watcher Murasidul Kidong Abduarahman and supporters Samier Allil Jamiri and Ben Bakil – were with mayoral candidate Jamar Mansul’s convoy when the clash happened near Sangbay Big Island at about 1:45 a.m.
Wounded supporters Haber and Zaldy Alih were brought to the hospital.
Mansul’s wife Hanah confirmed that fatalities were her husband’s supporters traveling from Dansalan, but denied the group was armed.
Mansul, who served as mayor of Hadji Muhtamad from 2013 to 2019 and one of three candidates, was unharmed. PNA