COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abduraof Macacua condemned the series of violence that rocked the city on the eve of the historic regional parliamentary elections, and the commotion in several polling precincts as voting kicked off Monday, describing them as “deeply alarming.”
“We strongly condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, and the use of firearms that threaten the safety of our people and the right of every Bangsamoro to vote freely and peacefully,” he said after voting at the Gambar Elementary School in Barangay Gambar, Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, at 7:45 a.m.
Three men were killed, and 20 others (15 in the earlier report) were hurt when a shooting occurred in front of a voting center in Barangay Bagua 2, Cotabato City, at 11:45 p.m. Sunday.
READ: 4 wounded in shooting incident inside Cotabato City polling center
Two separate explosions in Barangay Mother Kalanganan and in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 left one man critically injured. He was believed to be the one carrying the explosives that exploded prematurely while it was on his lap.
Four persons, including a police officer, were hurt inside Cotabato City Central Pilot Elementary School when gunmen started firing at a group of voters at 6:45 a.m.
These incidents forced the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc to place Cotabato City under its control.
“I have directed our security and emergency-response agencies to take immediate action, protect communities, assist victims, and investigate every incident,” Macacua said, adding that “those responsible must be held accountable under the law.”
He also appealed to candidates and supporters not to resort to violence and allow the electorate to vote freely.
“I appeal to all candidates, supporters, local leaders, and voters to remain calm and exercise restraint,” he said.
READ: Regular voting for BARMM polls now open
“We are all Bangsamoro; let us not allow fear, anger, or retaliation to undermine the peace we have worked hard to build,” Macacua said.
“Our election must be decided by the people’s votes—not by guns or threats,” Macacua said./coa
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