MANILA, Philippines?A shootout erupted on Turtle Islands following a heated argument between the town mayor and a retired police officer during the registration of voters on these far south Tawi-tawi group of islands, a military official said.

In a mobile text message to INQUIRER.net, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Major Ramon David Hontiveros said that the shootout happened in the vicinity of Taganak and Baguan islands.

Hontiveros, quoting initial reports, said Taganak Mayor Omar Aripin had a "heated argument with a retired police officer, identified as a certain Jabal, during the conduct of the registration of voters.?

Taganak Vice-Mayor Laurel Hamjaji took the side of Aripin while former councilor Hadji Imamil Bato sided with Jabal, Hontiveros said.

But he said units from the Western Mindanao Command had pacified the two warring groups as authorities began to investigate the incident.