Marawi City barangay official's aide shot dead by gunmen

MARAWI CITY--- Relatives of an aide of a barangay chairman here whom partisans allegedly shot dead Monday called on the Commission on elections to look into the bloody incident amid a nationwide ban on carrying of guns meant to ensure peaceful elections on May 9.The fatality, a certain Alimoden Salic, died from gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.The Lanao del Sur provincial police, which has jurisdiction over Marawi City, has surprisingly been silent on the incident.Salic was an aide of Engr. Casan Lazim, chairman of Barangay Bangolo, a vote-rich area in Marawi City.Lazim is a staunch supporter of Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic, a candidate for governor of Lanao del Sur, and his older brother, Solitario Ali, who is aspiring for the city’s mayoral post.The incident reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding between supporters of the mayor and a rival candidate, which barangay leaders tried to settle.Initial radio reports said gunshots rang amid the dialogue, causing a commotion.Responding policemen failed to arrest the gun wielding suspects, who reportedly managed to immediately escape from the scene after the shooting frenzy.