LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — A 34-year-old businessman was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sitio Riverside, Barangay Matibay, Lamitan City, on Friday evening, September 11, just three days before the first BARMM Parliamentary Election scheduled for September 14.
The victim was identified as Halid Dompol Mujanil, a resident of the area and reportedly the son-in-law of Rima Hassan, a candidate for Member of Parliament representing Lamitan City District 1.
Based on the initial report from the Lamitan City Police Station, the shooting occurred at around 7:20 p.m. while Mujanil was outside the gate of his residence and reportedly talking to someone over his cellphone.
Police said motorcycle-riding suspects allegedly stopped near Mujanil and suddenly opened fire before speeding away from the area.
Responding police recovered several spent 9mm cartridges at the scene, which were taken as part of the evidence for the ongoing investigation.
Mujanil survived the attack. Authorities, however, were still verifying the extent of his injuries and gathering additional information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting as of this writing.
Police are conducting a deeper investigation to identify the gunmen, establish the sequence of events and determine the motive behind the attack.
Conflicting Initial Reports
Initial information circulating after the incident also described the shooting as an attack on the residence of a BARMM parliamentary candidate in Barangay Matibay. However, the initial police account available to The Mindanao Sentinel identified Mujanil as the person who was outside the residence when the gunmen allegedly opened fire.
Authorities have yet to publicly establish whether the gunfire was directed at Mujanil, the residence, or another intended target.
More importantly, police have not established any political motive in the shooting.
The incident occurred only three days before the September 14 BARMM Parliamentary Election, but the timing alone does not establish a connection between the shooting and the upcoming election.
Authorities are expected to examine all possible angles, including the identity and background of the suspects, the intended target, the circumstances immediately preceding the shooting and any potential motive.
Police are also gathering witness accounts and other available evidence that could help identify the perpetrators.
The shooting is likely to heighten security concerns in Lamitan City and other areas of the Bangsamoro region as authorities prepare for the first parliamentary election in the BARMM.
For now, the motive remains undetermined, and authorities have yet to announce any arrests or identify the suspects.
The Mindanao Sentinel will continue to monitor the investigation and update this report once authorities release verified information regarding Mujanil’s condition, the identity of the suspects and the circumstances behind the attack.