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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP takes over as special electoral board in Maguindanao del Norte town due to poll-related violence

PNP takes over as special electoral board in Maguindanao del Norte town due to poll-related violence

Published May 12, 2025 02:28 pm

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said police personnel were designated to take over as the special electoral board (SEB) in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao due to election-related violence moments before the start of the midterm elections there on Monday, May 12.

Police Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM), said tension erupted when gunshots were heard as automated counting machines (ACMs) and other election paraphernalia were being transported from the municipal hall of Datu Odin Sinsuat.

“Kanina po bago ilabas ang election paraphernalia sa munisipyo ng Datu Odin Sinsuat, nagkaroon ng protesta itong mga supporters ng UBJP so umabot ‘yan hanggang almost 10 o’ clock (Earlier, before the election paraphernalia were shipped out of the municipal hall of Datu Odin Sinsuat, supporters of the UBJP staged a protest which lasted until 10 a.m.),” Ventura said during an online press briefing at the PNP monitoring center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The UBJP stands for United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

According to Ventura, the UBJP supporters blocked a military truck carrying the ACMs from getting out of the municipal hall. The ACMs were supposed to be transported to the polling centers.

“Nagkaroon ng negotiation. Ang pinoprotesta ng isang vice mayoralty candidate is kung pwede pulis daw ang mag-act as special electoral board (There was a negotiation. A vice mayoralty candidate is protesting for the cops to act as the special electoral board),” Ventura disclosed.

“Sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, PNP na magseserve (In Datu Odin Sinsuat, the PNP will now serve [as special electoral board],” he added.

A total of 312 electoral board members are required in Datu Odin Sinsuat, according to Ventura. Overall, more than 3,600 cops are trained as SEB in the whole Bangsamoro region.

“Ongoing na po ang transportation papunta sa polling centers at patuloy nating minomonitor (Their transportation to the polling centers are now ongoing and we are continuously monitoring it),” he said.

Meanwhile, the PRO-BARMM spokesman refuted reports that several teachers in other areas in BARMM have also backed out as electoral boards due to poll-related violence.

“As of this moment, wala pa po tayong official report na nare-receive tungkol sa mga teachers na umatras (As of this moment, we have yet to receive an official report about teachers backing out),” Ventura said.

Before this, supporters of UBJP and Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) already had a heated confrontation that led to a shooting incident in Cotabato City around 10:50 p.m. on May 11, the eve of election day.

A cop identified as Police Corporal Deniel Gabucayan, assigned to the City Mobile Force Company of Cotabato City Police Office (CMFC-CCPO), was wounded on the right abdomen while four civilians were also injured during the commotion.

They were identified as Jomar Kamad Salik, 25; Johaita Kanakan; Dinnes Difuntorum Mamalangkay, 40; and Jomar Manibpel Maton, 22.

Meanwhile, in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat four men were arrested after authorities said they were caught roaming around a barangay hall while armed with firearms around 8:40 p.m. on May 11.

Arrested were Ainajir Hassan Ammar, 25; Lidemar Saib, 23; Almudar Tada, 23; and Adzrimar Taji Raji, 28. 

According to the police, they received a call that a group of young men were brandishing their guns in front of the barangay hall of Barangay Kalawag 1.

When the responders arrived, the group scampered in different directions but four of them were nabbed by the police.

The police said Ammar was armed with a caliber .45 gun loaded with eight ammunition while Saib, Tada, and Taji were not.

Related Tags

special electoral board SEB PNP Maguindanao del Norte Datu Odin Sinsuat midterm elections poll-related violence May 12
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