Basilan village head, supporter slain

BASILAN, Philippines – A barangay chairman and a supporter were killed in an ambush in a village in Lamitan, Basilan yesterday morning, police said.

Senior Superintendent Cristeto Rey Gonzalodo, Basilan police director, said Barangay Balas chairman Jainudin Dulah and his supporter, a certain Jamrod Kuranding, were on their way to a candidates’ forum on board a motorcycle when they were waylaid at around 8:30 a.m.

Police did not rule out politics in the ambush-slay in relation to the upcoming barangay elections, although other angles were being looked into. 

Local election officials have appealed for a tighter security measures to avert violence among groups of rival candidates in far-flung communities.

Last Oct. 2, an election officer of Tuburan town was gunned down in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan.

Apparently aware of violent incidents in Basilan, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a resolution prolonging the implementation of the total gun ban in Basilan, as well as in some parts of Lanao del Sur and first legislative district of Bulacan.

The Comelec will conduct special elections in these areas on Nov. 13 after the May 10 polls there were declared a failure primarily due to election-related violence.

In Resolution No. 9065, the Comelec said the election period for the special polls is from Nov. 11 to 28, during which the total gun ban shall also take effect in these areas.

But such election period “coincides with a portion of the election period for the scheduled” Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from Sept. 25 to Nov. 10, during which a gun ban is also in effect.

The Comelec said that because of the overlap, “there is a need to extend the period of implementation of certain prohibitions, particularly Resolution No. 9040 dated Sept. 20, 2010… to be made applicable in the election period of the Nov. 13, 2010 special elections.”

The resolution bans the “bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons” and politicians availing themselves of security personnel or bodyguards.

The resolution also prohibits the transfer, detail or suspension of civil service employees and elective local officials. – With Sheila Crisostomo