FOUR people were killed while one was wounded in a gun attack late Thursday, January 3, in the island town of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan province, a top police official said.

Senior Superintendent Rufino Inot, Basilan police director, identified the fatalities as Nasra Asamudding, 26, Bassal Sahibad, Raddiyo Sahibad, and a certain Arab while the wounded victim was only identified as a certain Parisa.

He said investigation showed that the victims were at their residence in Sangbay Big village, Hadji Muhtama when the suspect, Albani Ahmad, armed with an M-16 Armalite rifle arrived around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and opened fire.

Inot said Ahmad has gone into hiding after the incident and that criminal charges are being readied to be filed against him. (SunStar Philippines)