The Commission on Elections (Comelec) strongly condemned the killing of an election officer on Monday, Feb. 13 who was shot in broad daylight along National Highway, Purok Libas, Brgy. Pinguiaman, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.
In a statement sent by Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, he said that the poll body is in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its leadership regarding this incident as they are already conducting hot pursuit operations while all personnel and checkpoints were alerted for possible arrest of the assailants.
The poll official was identified as Haviv M. Maindan, Election Officer II of Sultan sa Barongis, Province of Maguindanao who was with a certain Rolly Dilangalen, a resident of Brgy. Poblacion, Buluan, Maguindanao.
According to the poll body, Maindan will be turning 56 in March this year, having rendered 15 years of faithful government service in Comelec since 2007. His untimely death left behind his wife and four children, all of whom are still in school, with the eldest in college and the youngest in elementary.
"They all have lost a loving husband and an ever-doting and caring father," Comelec said.
With the unknown assailants still at large, Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the Commissioners, and the Comelec commit to the family of EO Maindan that they will not rest until justice is served.
According to the report provided to Comelec, the police disclosed that they received a phone call informing them of a shooting incident that transpired at 2:30 p.m. in the said area.
The victims were traveling from Sultan sa Barongis to Lambayong aboard their vehicle when the unidentified gunmen approached and shot them, several times hitting Maindan on different parts of his body while Dilangalen did not sustain any gunshot wounds.
The suspects fled after running in an unknown direction after the incident.
In a separate statement, Garcia said they are deeply saddened by the incident and that they strongly condemn such an "abhorrent" act which they believe contributes to the intimidation threatening to weaken the people's right to suffrage.
"We will not take this sitting down. The Commission is working closely with the proper authorities for the immediate resolution of this case. The barbaric perpetrators of the brutal act that took the life of one our own will never be tolerated under my watch," he added.
Garcia also mentioned that they have guaranteed Maidan's wife all other kinds of support for her and their four kids.
Meanwhile, he reminded all candidates who participated in the past elections and those who would be participating in future polls that election officers like Maidan are mandated to do their best to implement election laws in order to secure fair and honest elections for the welfare of the Filipino people, the country and the future generations.
"Victory or defeat in the polls is not our to decide, but is the people's will. We demand concrete action," he stated.