Families seek Marcos’ help in resolving Basilan election killings

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Relatives of three men killed in an election-related offshore gun attack, just a few hours prior to the May 12, 2025 electoral exercise, in Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan had urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help them secure justice for them.

Regional prosecutors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had recommended, in a lengthy resolution dated July 2, 2026, the prosecution in court for three counts of murder, two counts of frustrated murder and attempted murder of the incumbent mayor of Hadji Muhtamad, Arsina Kahing-Nano, and some 10 others for their alleged involvement in the carnage.

The atrocity left three residents of Hadji Muhtamad, Ben Bakil, Murasidol Abdurahman and Samir Jamiri Allil, dead and two others, Habir Alih and Saldi Alih, wounded.

Radio reports on Saturday, August 15, in cities and provinces in BARMM and in Administrative Region 12 stated that the relatives of the slain Bakil, Abdurahman and Allil had asked President Marcos, via a letter dated July 27, to help them put a judicial closure to the incident.

The three of them were poll watchers and political supporters of Hadji Jamar Abdullah Mansul, who aspired, but lost in his bid for the mayoral seat of Hadji Muhtamad during last year’s synchronized local, congressional and senatorial elections. 

Regional prosecutors in BARMM had pointed out in their resolution that Bakil, Abdurahman and Allil and their companions were together in a pumpboat, on their way to a polling site, when they were attacked by heavily armed men riding speedboats close to the beachfront Barangay Sangbay Big in Hadji Muhtamad.

Regional prosecutors had indicated in their written resolution that the speedboats used by the gunmen are owned by the mayor of Hadji Muhtamad, who was reelected then to the municipality’s mayoral post.

Copies of the letter to Marcos of the relatives of the three men killed in the incident were obtained by reporters on Friday from officials of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro and ranking officials of military units in Basilan.