Ferry attack kills 1, injures 2

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Gunmen aboard two motorized bancas attacked a ferry on Monday, killing one of the passengers and injuring two others who were heading to Basilan province to register for the next year’s elections.

The attack took place around 1 a.m. Monday between Tamuk Island and the village of Calang Canas in the municipality of Maluso in Basilan, said Colonel Ramon Yogyog, Special Operations Task Force-Basilan commander.

Yogyog identified the fatality as Nurhida Ahamad, 46, a resident of Suligan, Bubuan Island. Ahamad was the niece of Tabuan Lasa Mayor Muktar Junaid.

The wounded were Hadja Patricia Kadil, 46, of Lanawan Island, and Awina Ahamad of Suligan, Bubuan Island, all in the town of Tabuan Lasa.

Investigation showed the victims were among the about 400 passengers of the wooden-hulled vessel that was attacked.

The vessel owned by Mohammad Nordani, the village chief of Calang Canas, was traveling to Tabuan Lasa town coming from Zamboanga City when attacked by the four gunmen aboard two motorized bancas.

The gunmen, who were armed with M-16 Armalite and M-14 rifles, sped to unknown direction, Yogyog said.

The municipality of Tabuan Lasa comprises of 12 villages located in four islands namely Tapiantana, Bubuan, Lanawan, and Saluping.

Tabuan Lasa, which was created by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 187 and subsequently ratified in a plebiscite on March 29, 2008, is one of the 11 municipalities in Basilan province.

The Commission on Elections is holding a registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) after Congress declared null and void the voters’ list in the region early this year.

The registration is aimed to cleanse the list of official voters in Armm.

Aside from Basilan, the other provinces in Armm are Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)