Basilan town vice mayor unscathed in roadside bombing, 2 security escorts wounded

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 27): Basilan town vice mayor unscathed in roadside bombing, 2 security escorts wounded

A town vice mayor escaped unscathed but his two security escorts were wounded in a roadside bombing Monday morning allegedly perpetrated by Abu Sayyaf bandits in the nearby town of Sumisip, Basilan, a top official said.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said that Sumisip Vice Mayor Jul Adnan Hataman was unscathed but his two security escorts, Dasid Karim and Turmi Asikim, were wounded in the incident that occurred at around 8 a.m. Monday at Crossing Katuli in Barangay Tumahubong.

Vice Mayor Hataman was aboard a three-vehicle convoy at the time of the incident. He was on the way to attend the Peoples’ Day in Barangay Macalang, this town, organized by the ARMM government.

“He (Hataman) was unscathed since he transferred to the second vehicle. At first, he was on the lead car of the convoy,” Gov. Hataman said.

The vice mayor is the nephew of the ARMM governor.

The ARMM governor said the Abu Sayyaf bandits “are now targeting 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 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 the barangay as their stronghold and safe haven, he said.

The event also marked the restoration of governance in Barangay Macalang.

The ARMM governor was joined by Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., newly-installed 1st Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista and other top government officials as well as religious leaders.

The different line agencies of ARMM also rendered free services to thousands of residents of Macalang and its neighboring areas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=975388