Election officer, husband killed in ambush as BARMM violence escalates

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has intensified just days before the start of the local campaign period, with a series of deadly attacks in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Still unidentified gunmen ambushed the election officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, killing an election officer and her husband on Wednesday morning, March 26.

Police said a vehicle carrying the town’s election officer, Maceda Lidasan Abo, came under fire in Barangay Makir at about 8:20 am. 

Investigators said Abo and her husband, Jojo, who was driving, were en route to the town’s election office in the village of Dalican when they were attacked. 

Jojo died on the spot, while Maceda was taken to a hospital, where she subsequently died.

The attack followed another ambush on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, when the vehicle of Barangay Nekitan chairperson Mae Kris Sinsuat was fired upon in Barangay Bitu, Datu Odin Sinsuat. 

Sinsuat survived the attack as well as two other barangay officials accompanying her were wounded.

A week earlier, two lawyers representing the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) gubernatorial candidate Ali Midtimbang were ambushed in Barangay Awang, also in Datu Odin Sinsuat town. 

The UBJP is the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is leading the regional government of the Bangsamoro region.

Police said lawyer Junisa Kimamao, also a certified public accountant, was killed, while her fiancé, lawyer. Ibrahim Pendatu, was badly hurt. The couple had been preparing for their wedding later this month.

Former Maguindanao governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said the two lawyers were handling legal matters related to a violent confrontation between Midtimbang’s supporters and those of a rival candidate during the filing of certificates of candidacy in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.

Captain Annaliza Aguilar, Maguindanao del Norte police spokesperson, said four suspects on two motorcycles carried out the attack on Kimamao and Pendatu. 

Authorities have yet to arrest suspects in the recent attacks, which have underscored the persistent political violence in the Muslim-majority region as candidates and their supporters gear up for the elections.

Officials have yet to say whether the attacks were linked. In the meantime, law enforcement agencies said they were ramping up security measures amid rising tensions in the region. – Rappler.com