COTABATO CITY — A member of the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team was killed and five others were injured in a violent clash during the filing of candidacy for vice mayor on Tuesday in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. The incident involved gunfire and stone-throwing following an attempt by a wanted individual with multiple legal cases to file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC).
According to police reports, election officials could not process the individual’s candidacy because he lacked the necessary Certificate of Candidacy.
Although he was initially invited by the police for identity verification and allowed to file his candidacy at the municipal Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, his application was not processed due to his only having a certificate of nomination and acceptance from a political party.
Local government officials and the Shariff Aguak Municipal Police Station, led by Lt. Col. Regie Albellera, confirmed the fatality of the BPAT member during the incident. Police Corporal Montassir Eskak from the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and another resident, Saddam Taguigaya, were among those injured while intervening in the conflict.
Additionally, three individuals from the group that instigated the riot were also reported injured, as confirmed by officials from the Shariff Aguak local government and municipal police.
Police statements indicated that tensions escalated, leading to stone-throwing at vehicles and an exchange of gunfire between supporters of the vice mayoral candidate and opposing groups.
