LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — A family narrowly escaped death after unidentified riding-in-tandem gunmen opened fire on their vehicle Sunday evening, May 24, in Sitio Bohe Iris, Barangay Parangbasak, triggering panic among residents and prompting intensified security operations in the area.
Authorities said the shooting occurred at around 6:55 p.m. while victim Harie Angon and his family were traveling onboard a multicab from Barangay Baimbing to Barangay Parangbasak.
According to Lt. Col. Francis Tupas, commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion, the attackers were riding a Honda Beat motorcycle without a license plate when they suddenly pulled alongside the family’s vehicle and unleashed a barrage of gunfire.
“The suspects immediately fled toward an unknown direction after the attack,” Tupas said, adding that law enforcement units have launched hot pursuit operations in coordination with local police forces to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
Despite the sudden ambush, Angon and his relatives survived the attack, although authorities have yet to disclose whether any of the passengers sustained injuries during the shooting.
Initial investigation revealed that the assailants appeared to have deliberately targeted the family while they were traversing the road in Sitio Bohe Iris. Investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the attack, including whether it was connected to personal grudges, criminal activities, or other security-related concerns.
The brazen assault shattered what residents described as a normally peaceful Sunday evening in the area, causing alarm among nearby communities already wary of sporadic violence involving armed suspects in parts of Basilan.
Lt. Col. Tupas assured the public that security forces are closely monitoring the situation and have intensified military and police visibility operations across Lamitan City.
“We are reinforcing checkpoints and increasing patrol operations to ensure the safety of residents and prevent similar incidents,” Tupas said.
Authorities are appealing to the public to cooperate with investigators and immediately report any information that may help identify the motorcycle-riding gunmen.
As of Monday, the unidentified suspects remain at large while a full-scale investigation continues.