Two vehicles were damaged after a powerful bomb exploded outside the house of Lamitan City Vice Mayor Arleigh Eisma and followed by a second bomb explosion near a Catholic chapel late Thursday, April 18, 2013. (Photos courtesy of Richard Falcatan)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 18, 2013) – Two powerful homemade bombs exploded late Thursday near a Catholic chapel and outside the house of the vice mayor of Lamitan City in the troubled province of Basilan, reports said.
It said the blast outside the house of Vice Mayor Arleigh Eisma destroyed his vehicle and another explosion was also reported near the chapel. There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties in the bombings which occurred ahead of the May 13 general elections.
Eisma, a prominent and popular politician in Basilan, is running for mayor against Liberal party’s Rosita Furigay, the wife of incumbent Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay – who is on his third and last term as mayor – and is also running for vice mayor; and Councilman Hegem Furigay, of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
Two others – Mario Mamang and Masandal Sahal – are also running for mayor.
The twin attacks came even as police launched a manhunt for gunmen who shot and wounded 3 people, including Henry Furigay, the father of the councilman who is also the mayor’s nephew.
Police said the gunmen attacked the elder Furigay and his driver Bernard Cuevas and another supporter on April 13 in the village of Limook and escaped on a motorcycle after the shooting. The victims were heading to a political meeting when the attack occurred. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack. (Mindanao Examiner)
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