Hataman: No lockdown in Basilan

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman has debunked social and mainstream media reports that a total lockdown was imposed in the province following the two recent ambush incidents targeting Army soldiers.

He clarified that daily life and movement across the province remain completely normal.

“A friend in the media (not the Inquirer) seems to have made a mistake in their report stating that there is a total lockdown here in Basilan—that is not true,” he said in Filipino in a video statement posted on his official social media page late Monday afternoon.

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READ: 6 soldiers, 2 civilians hurt in Basilan ambush

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“The situation is very normal. Even with the series of recent events, the livelihood of our people across the province is not affected at all,” he added.

The governor expressed surprise after receiving messages from colleagues in Cotabato City checking on his safety due to the reported emergency lockdown in the province.

He added that a news broadcast network had also reached out to confirm the reports while he was in an ongoing meeting. 

The twin ambushes targeted members of the 45th Infantry Battalion, occurring on October 5 in Tipo-Tipo town and on October 8 in Lamitan City.

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Thirteen soldiers were wounded in the October 5 ambush.

In the October 8 attack, a soldier was killed, and 11 others were wounded, including two civilians.