COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Three people were killed, and at least 15 others were wounded in a shooting incident near a polling center in Barangay Bagua 2, Cotabato City, hours before the start of the historic Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on Monday, police said.
Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said the shooting occurred between around 11:40 and 11:55 p.m. on Sunday in front of Datu Usman Mampen Elementary School.
One of those killed was identified as 88-year-old Edar Kasan Andog of Purok Tulingan, Bagua 2. The other two fatalities remained unidentified as of press time.
The 15 wounded victims, whose identities were still being established, were brought to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
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Initial police investigation showed that groups of people had gathered at the school and lined up early for the September 14 BARMM parliamentary elections.
A jostling incident reportedly led to a heated argument that escalated into a shooting.
Police recovered empty shells believed to have come from .45-caliber and .9mm pistols at the scene.
The identities of the suspects remained undetermined as of the initial police report.
Personnel from the Cotabato City police, together with units from the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14, Cotabato City Mobile Force Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 and the 4th Special Action Battalion, responded to the incident.
The Scene of the Crime Operations team was still processing the area as of the latest report.
Authorities were continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible. /cb
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