ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 6, 2013) – Four people were injured in a blast at the house of Lamitan City mayor in the restive southern Philippine province of Basilan, officials said Monday.
Officials said the explosive was hurled inside the house of Liberal party front-runner Mayor Roderick Furigay, who was then meeting with his supporters Sunday night.
Four of Eisma’s political coordinators – Jomar Ignacio, 20; Melvin Tinguha, 22; Chris Umbac, 30; and Jay Ferrer, 29, – were injured in the blast. Police said it is still investigating the blast.
Last month, two powerful improvised bombs also exploded separately near a Catholic chapel and outside the house of Lamitan City Vice Mayor Arleigh Eisma. Although there were no reports of casualties, the explosion destroyed Eisma’s vehicles parked outside his house.
Eisma, a prominent and popular politician in Basilan, is running for mayor against Rosita Furigay, the wife of the mayor – who is on his third and last term as mayor – and is also running for vice mayor.
Prior to the attack on Eisma’s house, a gunman also shot and wounded Henry Furigay, the father of Lamitan City Councilman Hegem Furigay, who is also running for mayor under the of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino. The young Furigay is the mayor’s nephew.
Two other politicians – Mario Mamang and Masandal Sahal – are also running for mayor, but they are not as popular as Eisma and the young Furigay, who are the fiercest opponents of the incumbent mayor. (Mindanao Examiner)
20