Gun attack kills 3, injures 2

THREE people were killed while two others were wounded in a gun attack in the nearby province of Basilan, the police reported Monday.

The Basilan police provincial office said the incident took place around 5 p.m. Sunday near the detachment of the Special Action Force (SAF) in the village of Maganda, Lamitan City, Basilan.

The police identified the fatalities as Mahmud Mohammad, 28, a resident of Mohammad Ajul town, Halim Matias, 30, of Akbar municipality, and Arden Eve Medina of Lamitan City.

Medina, who was fatally hit by stray bullet, has recently passed the nursing licensure examination and was the granddaughter of Lamitan City Councilor Jaime Ortega.

Wounded were Norwina Jawani, and Raji Macrohon, the son of village chief Tatuh Macrohon, of Bato village, Lamitan City.

The victims were reportedly attacked by two men, armed with M-16 Armalite rifles. One of the suspects was identified as Nasser Tauto Dansalin alias Kuyung.

Dansalin is allegedly a member of the militia force in the village of Bohe Ibu, Lamitan City.

Investigation showed that the victims -- Mohammad, Matias, Jawani and Macrohon -- were on the way home coming from the house of Tuburan Vice Mayor Durie Kalahal when they were fired upon by the suspects who waited for them near the SAF detachment.

Prior to the incident, the police learned that the victims and Dansalin met at the residence of Kalahal where they have settled their differences.

The police also learned that the victims and Dansalan got involved in a trouble last Saturday at the Lamitan National High School.

Dansalan and his companion escaped and went into hiding after the incident, the police said.