ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur –– Five people, including a village chief and his militia forces, were killed in a shooting incident around 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, at Barangay Central Sumisip in Sumisip, Basilan.

Sumisip Mayor Adnan Hataman confirmed the shooting incident but could not provide complete details as investigation was ongoing.

“We don’t know how it started, but both sides reportedly clashed and we lost five people,” Hataman said.

Abdulhasan Esek, village chief of Barangay Guiong in Sumisip, reportedly went to Barangay Central Sumisip supposedly to settle a problem but his team was greeted with gunfire.

According to Hataman, Esek was accompanied by Nulpi Taalil, a municipal employee; two civilian militias identified as Anson Barillo and Iroy Barillo; and barangay peacekeeper Brad Baakal.

Three more persons were wounded in the incident, Hataman added.

Hataman is holding an emergency meeting for the town’s peace and order council to pacify the tension in the town. /lzb