Canvassing in Basilan disturbed anew by two explosions, 3 injured

By Ronron
May 22, 2007

Three persons were hurt in twin explosions Monday night at a canvassing site in Basilan province, police said.

According to Sr. Supt. Alex Macapantar, Basilan Provincial Police Director, two ammunitions of an M79 grenade launcher landed at the Lamitan Central Elementary School (LCES) in Lamitan town proper at around 7:55pm the other day (Monday).

“Maybe this is harassment to disrupt the canvassing because it did not really hit the canvassing site,” Macapantar said in a phone interview.

Macapantar said the votes in Sumisip town were then being counted at the LCES.

He disclosed that one of the ammunition landed at the fishpond at the back of the school, while the other one landed on the roof of the school’s restroom.

Macapantar said three civilians staying at a waiting shed near the restroom were hit with shrapnel, and were brought to the St. Peter Hospital in said town for treatment.

They were identified as Ben Ecles, 40; Nasser Asarul, 32; and Jalil Paris, 35.

Macapantar said police still has no idea about the suspect, whom, personnel from the Lamitan Police and the Philippine Marines believe fired from 200 meters away, probably, at the Rizal Central Elementary School.

“The chief of police of Lamitan was already directed to conduct an investigation on the incident,” Macapantar said.

On March 16, a grenade was lobbed at the Basilan State College in the provincial capital of Isabela City where a canvassing was also ongoing. No one was hurt in said incident.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has included Basilan among the provinces with serious armed threats that need their serious watch./DMS