Basilan councilor, 5 companions hurt in shooting

MANILA, Philippines — A town councilor and his five companions were wounded in a shooting that triggered a gunfight between two clans in Akbar, Basilan yesterday.

Husin Kalang and his relatives Ryan Latip, Abubakar Latip, Jemar Kalang, Ajim Jamaluddin and Algafar Naser, all residents of Tuburan town, were in a vehicle when they were attacked in Sitio Lessem, Barangay Bato-Bato, allegedly by a group led by a certain Jemar and Kedyok Nani.

Maj. Ayap Sali, Akbat police officer-in-charge, said Kalang and his companions, despite being wounded, managed to return fire, prompting the members of the other group to withdraw.

The police and military said the two groups were engaged in rido or clan war due to the kidnapping of a certain Jimmy, a relative of Jemar and Nani, which was blamed on the group of Kalang.

Followers of Jemar and Nani were tagged in the killing of Nurjan Latip, a former barangay chairman in Caddayan. The killing is believed to be in retaliation for the disappearance of Jimmy.

Checkpoint operations have been intensified in Akbar as well as nearby Tuburan and Lamitan City following the incident.