The 2022 national and local elections in Basilan province commenced on Monday, May 9, but it was marred by strafing and shooting incidents, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said registered voters in all 499 clustered precincts in 11 municipalities and two cities in Basilan started casting their votes at 6 a.m.
However, Garcia said security officers monitored strafing incidents in at least two barangays in Sumisip town.
A heavy firing was also reported in the island barangay of Bulo-bulo in Tabuan Lasa town.
Garcia described these as “very minimal incidents.”
“All of these did not stop Comelec from delivering election paraphernalias to designated voting centers,” Garcia said.
Luckily, there was no reported casualty in the said incidents, Garcia said.
Authorities were already investigating the groups behind the attacks.