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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Warrants of arrest issued vs Basilan town mayor, others

Warrants of arrest issued vs Basilan town mayor, others

Published Aug 22, 2026 10:52 am

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Warrants of arrest have been issued against Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Kahing Nanoh and seven others in connection with the May 2025 attack in Basilan that left three people dead and several others wounded.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC), Ninth Judicial Region, Branch 2 in Isabela City issued the warrants on Thursday, August 20, directing law enforcement authorities to arrest Nanoh and her co-accused.

Named in the warrants are Nadz Nanoh, Walihul Allama, Hji. Rahim Kahim, Lucman Kahing, Tudy Bayro, Singh Hassan, and Arsina Kahing Nanoh, along with seven John Does.

The court ruled that the murder charges are non-bailable, while bail was set at P200,000 for each count of frustrated murder and P100,000 for the attempted murder charge.

The cases stemmed from the May 12, 2025 attack in the waters off Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, which killed Ben Bakil, Murasidol Abdurahman, and Samir Jamiri Allil, and wounded several others.

The warrants cover Criminal Case Nos. 9965, 9966, 9967, 9968, 9969, and 9970, involving three counts of murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and one count of attempted murder.

The cases were filed before the RTC earlier this week following a resolution by the Department of Justice Regional Prosecution Office No. XIV, which recommended charges against the respondents.

Before the cases reached the court, the victims’ families appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to expedite the proceedings after waiting more than a year for legal action.

“Mahigit isang taon na po kaming naghihintay ng hustisya,” the families said in a July 27 letter to the President.

They emphasized that they were seeking accountability, not revenge: “Hindi po paghihiganti ang hinihingi namin. Katarungan. Katotohanan. Pananagutan.”

The letter was signed by complainants Nurhuda Sanoh Maula-Bakil, Danna Jumdani Allil, and Jocelyn B. Abdurahman, representing the victims’ families.

The complaints arose from a predawn sea ambush near Barangay Sangbay Big, Hadji Muhtamad, where a pump boat carrying supporters and poll watchers of rival mayoralty candidate Hadji Jamar Abdulla Mansul was allegedly intercepted by two speedboats reportedly owned by Mayor Nanoh.

Although Mayor Nanoh was not at the scene, prosecutors concluded she was part of a conspiracy, citing ownership of the speedboats, the involvement of her relatives and security personnel, and the alleged political motive of preventing the victims from voting for her opponent.

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