A COURT has issued warrants of arrest against Mayor Arsina Kahing Nanoh of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, and 13 others in connection with the May 12, 2025 attack that killed three people and wounded others in Basilan province.
The warrants of arrest for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Isabela City on Thursday, August 20, 2026, against Nanoh and her co-accused.
The mayor’s co-accused are Nadz Nanoh, Walihul Allama, Hadji Rahim Kahim, Lucman Kahing, Tudy Bayro, Singh Hassan, and seven John Does.
The warrants cover Criminal Case Nos. 9965, 9966, 9967, 9968, 9969 and 9970, involving two counts of frustrated murder, three counts of murder and attempted murder.
The court said the murder charges are non-bailable, while bail was set at P200,000 for each frustrated murder cases and P100,000 for the attempted murder charges.
The criminal cases stemmed from the May 12, 2025 attack near Sangbay Big village, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, that resulted to the death of Ben Bakil, Murasidol Abdurahman and Samir Jamiri Allil and wounded others.
The cases were filed before the RTC Branch 2 in Isabela City, Basilan earlier this week following a resolution of the Department of Justice’s Regional Prosecution Office Number 14, recommending the filing of charges against the respondents.
The RTC Branch 2 has ordered law enforcement authorities to arrest the accused and bring them before the court to face the charges.
Days before the issuance of the warrants, the lady mayor said in her social media account on August 9 that she chose to remain silent, knowing how politics is used to smear reputations, intimidate, and turn personal issues that ought to be addressed through the proper processes.
“It all began with circulating talk regarding the Regional Prosecutor's decision. I chose not to engage in arguments on social media because the matter is already undergoing legal proceedings, and I am allowing my lawyers to perform their duties,” she said.
“I believe in due process and in seeking the truth through the proper channels,” she added. (SunStar Zamboanga)