5 dead in BARMM election-related violent incidents

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PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. declared a successful conduct of yesterday’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) despite incidents of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that left five people dead, and 11 others injured.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Acorda acknowledged that the PNP faced several hurdles during the election but “these did not affect the overall conduct of the electoral process (Monday).”

“In the face of these hurdles, we have not faltered. We have risen to the occasion, determined to find a swift and effective resolutions,” said Acorda, adding: “Our collective efforts have ensured that the integrity and fairness of the electoral process remains unscathed.”

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Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, BARRM regional police director, said they recorded six shooting incidents in the region on Monday, which resulted in the death of five people and the wounding of 11 others.

“There were six shooting incidents in the Bangsamoro region and out of these shooting incidents five were killed and 11 were wounded,” said Nobleza.

Acorda said there were four arson incidents — two in BARMM, one in Davao region, and one in Bicol.

“The burning incidents in these areas did not in any way affect the electoral process,” he said, adding that police operatives are already pursuing suspects in the four cases.

Acorda said despite the election-related incidents, there were no failure of elections declared in any area in the country.

One of the shooting incidents resulted in the killing of Madid Bao, a candidate for barangay chairman in Barangay Poktan in Butig, Lanao del Sur. The victim is the husband of incumbent barangay chairwoman Conaipa Bao.

Nobleza said the suspect, identified as Jamael Bao, was the victim’s brother. Jamael is also running for barangay chairman of Barangay Poktan.

Police said Madid confronted his brother at around 7 a.m. why he was inside the voting precinct, noting that candidates are not allowed inside. The confrontation led to a heated argument.

Jamael supposedly complained that his brother had a pistol, which made Madrid angry and hit the former on the head.

During the ensuing gun scuffle, the pistol went off, hitting Madid on the chest. The victim was rushed to the hospital but later died.

MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE

In Maguindanao del Norte, two individuals died while four others were injured in a shooting incident in Barangay Bugawas in Datu Odin Sinsuat town an hour before the opening of the barangay and youth polls.

The fatalities were identified as Juhaimin Ube and one alias Mistake, while the wounded were Mohalidin Solaiman, Jerik Alon, Nasrudin Salik, and Harong Tating.

The incident occurred along the Cotabato-Shariff Aguak Road near a polling precinct.

Police probers are investigating if the incident is election-related as initial reports showed the victims were supporters of a candidate.

Police have launched pursuit operations against four suspects — alleged gunmen Romar Abas alias Mok, and Keds Lidasan alias Ken; and their cohorts Michael Abas and Teng Kapaya.

Acorda said BARMM police investigators “have persons of interest (in the case) and hot pursuit operations are ongoing.”

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“We don’t want an escalation of this problem. Our policemen are there, ready to respond and they are running after the suspects,” Acorda said.

Asked about adjustments made by the local police after the incident, Acorda said: “Definitely, there will be additional forces to be deployed there to prevent further violence. Our reserve force will definitely be realigned in that area.”

INJURIES

No details were made available to the media as to the two other fatalities.

Nobleza said that aside from the four injuries related to the shooting in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte, said six others were also injured in a shooting incident in Tuburan, Basilan.

“We are still investigating as to the identities of the suspects,” he said.

The BARMM police also reported that a poll watcher in Matungao, Lanao del Norte, was also hurt after he was punched by a poll watcher of a rival candidate for barangay chairman in Barangay Banco.

The victim was identified as Sowhyb Macarandang while the police tagged the alleged suspect as Truman Dibaratun.

Macarandang told the police that he was standing outside a polling precinct in the barangay at around 6 a.m. when he was approached by Dibaratun who asked him what he was doing in the area.

Police said Macarandang told Dibaratun that he was a poll watcher and that he knows what he was doing. Dibaratun got angry and punched Macarandang in the mouth.

Nobleza also said a commotion incident and a mauling incident were reported in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur and Tugaya, Lanao del Sur, respectively.

Elections chairman George Garcia they are looking into the supposed incident involving armed men who reportedly blocked the transport of election paraphernalia via boat in the Bangsamoro region.

Garcia also cited the alleged punching incident in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, where a police was punched by an unidentified individual that resulted to a riot.
Acorda said they have not monitored shooting incidents in areas outside of BARMM.

PALAWAN

Garcia said members of the Electoral Board (EB) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan suspended voting in two polling precincts in Barangay Princesa after supporters of a candidate stormed the precincts and destroyed ballots. The voting will resume once there are available unused ballots, he said.

The Department of Education (DepEd), which is also monitoring the conduct of the BSKE through its own operations and monitoring center, said it did not monitor any untoward incidents involving teachers “except for the situation in Lapat Balantay, Tineg Abra. We are coordinating with the Comelec on this matter,” DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa said without giving details.

Poa likewise said no teachers were harmed in Puerto Princesa.

“No teachers were hurt in the Puerto Princesa incident. There is also no failure of elections,” he said, adding that the DepEd is waiting for additional reports from the Puerto Princesa City Schools Division Office.

LEGAZPI CITY

Teachers Dignity Coalition national chairperson Benjo Basas said a teacher who is a member of the Election Board in Bicol died in Barangay Pawa, Legazpi City in a road accident at around 12:45pm Monday.

The teacher was identified as Amy Amario, a resident of Barangay Bogtong in Legazpi City and is serving as BEI chairperson at the Tamaoyan Elementary School.

Initial investigation showed the victim was on board a motorcycle driven by his son when on their way to cast their votes, their motorcycle collided with another motorcycle.

Poa earlier said 494, 662 public school teachers will be deployed for the BSKE polls.

The teachers who will be deployed for the BSKE will receive an honorarium of P9, 000 for electoral board chairs to P10, 000 for board members higher than the P5,000 to P6,000 proposed honoraria.

NCR, VISAYAS

Metro Manila police director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there were no recorded untoward incidents in the initial hours of the BSKE.

“The initial hour for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections recorded no untoward incidents in the National Capital Region. Despite some violations of (the) liquor ban, the delivery of election paraphernalia, and opening of the polling precincts in Metro Manila was peaceful,” Nartatez told reporters in a Viber message.

The Southern Police District also reported no untoward incidents in its jurisdiction. The SPD covers the cities of Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Taguig, Parañaque and Muntinlupa and the lone municipality of Pateros.

The Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO) said that as of 2:30 p.m. yesterday, the conduct of the BSKE in the province was generally peaceful.

Rizal PPO director Col. Felipe Maraggun visited the voting sites in in Antipolo City and other municipalities in the province.

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the AFP Visayas Command, said the BSKE in the entire Visayas, including in Negros Oriental, was “very peaceful.”

“Everything was very peaceful. It went smoothly, well,” said Arevalo. “There was no violent (election-related) incident reported today,” he added.

What were reported, Arevalo said, were some cases of vote-buying and violation of the election gun ban and liquor ban.

In Negros Oriental where Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others were killed in March during an attack allegedly masterminded by expelled Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr, Arevalo said: “It’s very peaceful in (Negros) Oriental.”

Arevalo said the military conducted aerial survey in the province during the elections “so the people will also feel that we are securing them.”

Arevalo attributed the success to the collaboration among Comelec, AFP, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard and other stakeholders. He noted the early preparations made by these agencies.

Garcia said no untoward incidents were reported in the 365 barangays that are under the “Red” category of the list of Areas of Concern.

Similarly, he said there were no untoward incidents that were recorded in the two areas under Comelec control — which are Negros Oriental and Libon, Albay.

ELECTION-RELATED INCIDENTS

Acorda said the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) has increased to 35, from 31 earlier Monday.

“As of now it’s already 35 but validation of other incidents are still ongoing,” said Acorda in a late afternoon media briefing. There were 40 ERIs in the last BSKE in 2018.

Acorda said there is a possibility the ERIs in this year’s BSKE will be almost similar or even surpass the figures in the BSKE in 2018.

Acorda said the number of vote-buying incidents have also increased to 19, from 17 earlier reported on Monday – three each in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Soccsksargen; two each in Calabarzon and Western Visayas; and one each in Central Luzon, Central Visayas,

Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, BARMM and National Capital Region.

“There were arrests made but we are having difficulty in the filing (of charges),” said Acorda, noting the refusal of witnesses to testify against the suspects.

The PNP also reported that as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, 1,995 individuals have been arrested and 1,510 assorted firearms seized in the implementation of the election gun ban. It said 2,353 firearms were deposited to the PNP for safekeeping, while the 1,701 other firearms were surrendered to the police.

Garcia vowed the Comelec will not let those behind the poll-related incidents scot-free.

“We know their identity, including politicians that meddled in the BSKE. We have videos and pictures of everything they did. We will just let this process over then we will run after them,” he said, adding: “Make no mistake about it: once the smoke is clear, all these offenders, we won’t forgive them.”

MINOR ISSUES

Acorda said election in some areas were delayed due to “minor issues.” He said election in these areas were still ongoing as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that every single vote is counted accurately and that the deserving candidates are rightfully proclaimed,” he said, adding the PNP will continue to provide “comprehensive security coverage” during the transport of election paraphernalia back to warehouses of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We guarantee that every precaution will be undertaken in order to ensure the safe and efficient handling vital components of the democracy,” he said. — With Gerard Naval, Ashzel Hachero and Christian Oineza

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