Businessman Survives Gun Attack in Basilan; Election Link Unclear

A 34-year-old businessman narrowly escaped death after unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire on him outside his residence in Barangay Matibay, Lamitan City, Basilan on Friday evening, Sept. 11. Police identified the survivor as Halid Dompol Mujanil, a local resident and the son-in-law of Rima Hassan, who is running for a parliamentary seat representing Lamitan City’s first district in the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections. READ: Basilan security forces intensify coordination ahead of BARMM polls Initial police investigation showed that Mujanil was standing near his residence’s gate while speaking on his mobile phone around 7:20 p.m. when suspects on a motorcycle approached and suddenly fired several shots at him. The assailants immediately fled the scene to an unknown direction. Responding law enforcers recovered several spent 9mm cartridges at the crime scene. Mujanil was rushed to the nearest hospital. Investigators have launched a follow-up operation to identify the shooters and establish the motive behind the attack. Local police said that it remains unclear whether the gun attack was connected to the upcoming BARMM parliamentary elections scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14. /das