COTABATO CITY - At least three people were killed, scores wounded, and a dozen individuals were taken by police after violence between two political aspirants erupted Monday night in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato, authorities said Tuesday in the latest pre-election-related violence incidents across the country.
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| Marine soldiers from the 1st Marine Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. Eric Macaambac stand guard in Cotabato city, on Oct. 24, 2023, a day after violence involving two rival political clans erupted on Monday night, leaving three dead and two others wounded, the latest in pre-election-related incidents in Mindanao. (Photos by Mark Navales) |
Election violence is nothing new in the Philippines, where bitter rivalries particularly in far-flung provinces often end up in shootings and even death.
Barangay elections, set on October 30, are important because whoever wins technically commands votes for national posts. Former President Rodrigo Duterte postponed the barangay elections last year, citing the possibility - though unfounded – that drug traffickers could be funding the election campaign of some candidates.
Colonel Querubin Manalang Jr. the city police chief, told reporters that slain victims, Nur-Moqtadin Butucan, Alfar Singh Ayunan Pasawiran, 21, and Mawie Kaunutan, were reported in the barangay of Rosary Heights 12 shortly after 9:00 p.m. to hang posters for the upcoming village polls when they were suddenly attacked by unknown suspects.
The victims, along with their supporters, returned fire but they were outnumbered, leaving three others from the injured, Manalang said.
“We conducted a pursuit and clearing operations and captured 12 suspects,” he said.
Bruce Matabalao, city mayor, said he was deeply saddened and angered by the incident that escalated to a violent firefight. “The loss of three lives in this incident is not only tragic but a direct affront to the peaceful democratic progress in the city,” he said. “To those responsible, know that your actions will not go unpunished.”
A New York-based security risk and management agency reported hours before the shooting about 18 incidents of election-related violence have been recorded since October 20. The firm advised foreigners residing in the Philippines to avoid rallies, party offices, polling stations, and counting centers, as a precaution.
“If clashes erupt nearby, immediately depart the area and seek shelter at a safe nongovernmental building," Crisis24 said in their advisory released on October 23.
Villagers flee on a tricycle in the village of Rosary Heights 12 where Marines secured the perimeter in Cotabato City. (Photo by Mark Navales)
Just over the weekend, 500 military personnel arrived in Maguindanao to help maintain the peace and security during the holding of village polls.
Major General Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander in Central Mindanao, emphasized that the deployment was a strategic move to ensure the peaceful and secured conduct of elections. "This proactive stance is aimed at safeguarding the electoral process, demonstrating the commitment of the government to upholding democracy and maintaining law and order,” Rillera said.
“The collaborative effort of the military, police, and other security forces signifies the government's unwavering dedication to ensuring a safe and fair electoral process," he added.
Across the region, the police said 35 incidents of violence suspected to be related to the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections have been recorded.
“Twelve of them are still suspected as election-related incidents,” said national police spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo.
Last August 28, an incumbent village chief of Albay, Alex Repato, who was seeking reelection, was shot by unknown perpetrators after filling his certificate of candidacy at the office of the Commission on Election.
Days before that, village chairperson candidate Haron Dimalanis was shot by two men in front of the town hall in Midsayap North Cotabato on August 20.
Last month, a village chieftain seeking reelection and a former councilor were attacked and shot in their car in Zamboanga on September 3 while in Taal, Batangas last September 6 another re-electionist, Erasmo Hernandez, was gunned down.
“These cases manifest the rising numbers of election-related violence as the 2023 barangay and SK elections approach,” the Commission on Human Rights said.
“Continued occurrences of violence against electoral candidates undermines the electoral process and negatively impacts our democracy. The culture of fear it creates can impair the people's right to make free and empowered decisions,” the human rights body added.
Last year 2022, Authorities disbanded about 20 private armed groups working for politicians over concerns about potential poll-related violence.
Most of the disbanded armed groups were from an autonomous Muslim region in the south, where some members of gun-for-hire organizations are known to have links to militants.
The Philippines, with its long-running gun culture, coupled with feuding clans in tribal areas as well as rival political dynasties trying to outdo each other, has seen gun-for-hire groups commit violence in advance of elections.
During the 2016 general election, as many as 50 people died in poll-related violence, according to police statistics. Three years later, during the 2019 midterm election, 23 people were killed and 50 injured. (Mark Navales)
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