Nephew of ARMM governor unharmed in Basilan roadside bombing

March 27, 2017

AL-BARKA, Basilan – The vice mayor of a town in Basilan province escaped unharmed but his two security escorts were wounded in a roadside bombing allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf in Sumisip.

Police said this happened 8 a.m. Monday at Crossing Katuli, Barangay Tumahubong in the municipality of Sumisip.

Unharmed was Sumisip Vice Mayor Jul Adnan Hataman but Dasid Karim and Turmi Asikim, his security escorts, were wounded.

He was on the way to attend the Peoples’ Day in Barangay Macalang, this town, held by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“He (Hataman) was unscathed since he transferred to the second vehicle. At first, he was in the lead car of the convoy,” ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said. The vice mayor is the nephew of the ARMM governor.

The ARMM governor said the Abu Sayyaf bandits “are now targeting the local officials in this province since they are actively helping the military in flushing out the bandits in their areas.”

“This attack came as the local government units here are denying the Abu Sayyaf possible areas for them to hide as the military intensified its campaign,” Gov. Hataman said.

The ARMM governor led the holding of the Peoples’ Day in Barangay Macalang, this town.

The holding of the Peoples’ Day marked the liberation of Macalang from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who for several years made barangay their stronghold. The event also marked the restoration of governance in Barangay Macalang. DMS