GANASSI, Lanao del Sur -- Four children, aged five to 15 years old, were wounded when they were caught in a crossfire when supporters of two rival political clans engaged in a gunfight two hours before voting ended on Monday in Ganassi, Lanao del Sur.
The Guro family was on the way home to Marawi City from casting votes in Lumbaca Unayan town when they passed by Barangay Poblacion, Ganassi where supporters of incumbent Mayor Al-Rashid Macapodi and his rival, Amano Balindong, exchanged gunfire.
"Nag-U turn sila para bumalik para hindi madamay pero sinundan daw sila ng pamamaril kaya ang mga bata na nasa likuran ng sasakyan naka-upo ang may mga gunshot wounds," said Lieutenant Jose Ganzan, operations officer of 55th Infantry Battalion, in an interview.
(The victims' vehicle made a U-turn so that they won't get caught in the fight. But they were shot at, that's why the children, who were sitting at the back, got the gunshot wounds.)
The victims were brought to a hospital at nearby Binidayan town for treatment but were later transferred to Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City.
Prior to the incident, a 20-year old relative of Macapodi, an election watcher, was shot by suspects they identified as relatives of Balindong.
The Macapodi supporters retaliated by staging an ambush against Balindong's brother, Saipoden, a barangay treasurer of Pualas town.
It triggered the shoot out that resulted in the wounding of the children.
Two were wounded from the group of Balindong, one from the group of Macapodi.
Captain William Dagondon, chief of Ganassi Municipal Police Station, did not expect the incident to happen because he said there was no tension brewing at the start of campaign. (PNA)
