7 Killed In Jolo Island Violence

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 10 Apr) – At least 7 people were killed in sporadic clashes between armed supporters of politicians in Tongkil town in Jolo island, about 960 km south of Manila, local officials said Tuesday.

The town mayor Wahid Sahidulla said at least seven people, two from his side, had died from the violence after gunmen seized a village and strafed houses.
One policeman was also wounded, he said.

“The fighting is continuing and seven people have been killed so far and there is no sign that the violence would end soon. Gunmen are sowing terror and thousands of villagers have fled their homes for fear they would be held hostage or executed,” Sahidulla told the Mindanao Examiner newspaper in Zamboanga City.

He said the raiders, armed with small rockets and automatic weapons, allegedly torched a Protestant church and several houses and also bombed the municipal hall of Tongkil town at around 2 a.m. Monday.

The gunmen also seized a village called Sigumbal, trapping some 7,000 people.

The mayor said the attacks were connected to politics and blamed it to his opponents. “They wanted to take control of the elections and scare the people,” he said.

Sahidulla said he sought help of the military, but security officials told him to get in touch with the local police force. “The town’s police force is outnumbered and the situation is getting worse by the day. It is like a ghost town already in Tongkil,” he said.

Military officials earlier warned politicians against using violence in the May polls, saying, security forces are ready to confront them to ensure peace and honest elections.

Officials said soldiers would be used to ensure elections are not hampered by the presence of rebels and terrorists in areas where they are actively operating.

Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, head of the police in the Muslim autonomous region, said they have sent additional forces to pacify the warring groups.

“We have sent police forces in the area. This is more of a political trouble and we are addressing this problem,” Goltiao told the Mindanao Examiner by phone.

Dozens of people had been killed in poll-related violence across the country where Filipinos are to elect their senators and congressmen and local officials on May 14.

Police said about four dozen people had been killed in election-related violence since political campaign began this month.

Elections in the Philippines, particularly in the Muslim autonomous region, are traditionally bloody. Many politicians maintain private armed goons to harass their opponents and intimidate voters. (Mindanao Examiner)