October 10, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The municipality of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur may be classified as an election hotspot due to a shooting incident that occurred on the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).
A village peacekeeper was killed while six others were wounded when two groups of men fired shots and hurled stones at each other on Tuesday afternoon.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it might recommend to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the declaration of Shariff Aguak as an election area of concern due to the incident that occurred in Barangay Poblacion.
PNP chief. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered the municipal police to intensify police visibility and set up border control and strategic checkpoints.
The Comelec is considering deploying additional men in Shariff Aguak to prevent similar incidents from happening in the runup to the 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would take proper measures this early and consider the town for possible deployment of additional security forces.
The Shariff Aguak police has requested additional personnel to beef up its force.
“Definitely, this area will be included, at least under the yellow category level,” PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said yesterday.
Areas placed under the yellow category are those with records of intense political rivalry, occurrence of suspected politically motivated incidents, and presence of loose firearms and threat groups.
Reports said residents and supporters of a vice mayoral aspirant figured in a quarrel before shots were fired.
Fajardo said the incident occurred 300 meters away from the municipal compound where the Comelec office is located.
“One of the victims was killed while five were wounded, one of whom remains in critical condition,” she said.
Except for the incident in Shariff Aguak, Garcia said the last day of the filing of COCs was generally peaceful and orderly.
Lt. Col. Regie Abellera, town police chief, confirmed that a member of a barangay peacekeeping action team died while being treated in a hospital. – John Unson, Diana Lhyd Suelto
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