6 dead in poll violence in Central, Western Mindanao

ISABELA CITY, Basilan - Violence on the eve of election day and on the day itself has killed at least six people and left seven other wounded in Central and Western Mindanao areas, according to the military.

The military said unidentified armed men burned down two separate polling centers in Tamparan and Poona towns in Lanao del Sur while ballot snatching was reported in Maguing and Tamparan towns in the same province.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the military has monitored at least two civilian deaths in a gun attack in Lisson Valley in Pagadian City  on Sunday.

Tan said gunmen also fired at a convoy transporting voting paraphernalia in Barangay Cambingan, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur about 3 a.m. Monday that left one dead and two wounded.

Tan said the victim was not immediately identified while those wounded were identified as Jalalodin Pimping Usman and Ansary Usman Gandamra, both brothers of mayoral candidate Majul Gandamra.

He said soldiers securing the convoy have arrested a suspect.

Tan also said voting was temporarily stopped when unidentified armed strafed the polling place near Plaza Villa, Bangola, also in Marawi.

He said voting has resumed under tight security.

Shootouts, grenade attacks

Another person was killed and another was wounded in a shootout early Monday morning in the municipal gym of Poblacion Marantao in Lanao del Sur between the supporters of two political parties.

A person was also wounded when three simultaneous explosions rocked the village of Laum, Maimbung town, Sulu.
A certain Misar Jawari was wounded and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, Tan said.

He said a civilian was also killed and another two were injured in two explosions believed to be fired from grenade launchers past midnight Monday at Datu Unsay Public Market in Datu Unsay town, Maguindanao.

Two simultaneous explosions rocked Barangay Kitapok, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town also in Maguindanao about 8 a.m. on Monday when unidentified men fired 40-mm rifle grenades. No one was reported injured, Tan said.

Tan said a civilian was killed and another was also wounded in a shooting incident that erupted in the vicinity of the polling center at Tambunan Elementary School in Guindulungan, Maguindanao. He said that, according to police reports, an unidentified supporter of a certain Booby Bondula opened fire at the supporters of Midpantao Midtimbang Jr. about 6:20a.m. on Monday.

Meanwhile, unidentified suspects torched and partially burned the Dilausan Primary School, designated as polling center in Tamparan town, Lanao del Sur about 1 a.m. on Monday. An eight-classroom building in Ragayan Elementary School in Poona Bayabao town also burned down two hours later.

Voting in Ragayan Elementary School was transferred to Poona Bayabao Municipal School.

The police also reported that unidentified men torched the village hall in Katipunan, Barangay Katipunan, Guipos town in Zamboanga del Sur shortly before midnight, which left a stay-in worker injured.

As this developed, unidentified gunmen also fired M203 rifle grenades at the house of Mayor Alber Balindong.

Tan said troops on the ground reported that retaliatory fire as also heard coming from Balindong's house.

He said said gunshots were also reported on the eve of election in the areas of Concepcion, Roxas, and Sirawai towns in Zamboanga del Norte, and Buug and Alicia towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province. There were no reported casualties.