Ex-mayor killed in suspected Lanao del Sur poll violence

Metro Manila, Philippines - A former mayor and husband of the reelectionist incumbent in Lanao del Sur was shot dead in broad daylight on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in another suspected case of election-related violence in the Bangsamoro region.

According to the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, former Lumbaca-Unayan Mayor Abdulazis Tadua Aloyodan was standing at the motor pool in front of his house near the municipal hall when gunmen on board a pick-up fired multiple shots.

The 60-year-old Aloyodan, husband of Mayor Jamalia Dimatunday Aloyodan was declared dead on arrival at a health facility.

Police are hunting down the gunmen.

In a briefing on election updates on Friday, Feb. 28, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is awaiting updates from the police to decide whether to include this shooting in the rising number of election violence cases in the Bangsamoro.

“Maaaring hindi election related dahil meron rido [clan conflict] doon sa area na iyan but at the same time since asawa kasi siya ng mayor, we might consider that likewise as election related. Might lang naman,” Garcia said.

[Translation: It may not be election-related because there is a clan conflict [rido] in that area, but at the same time, since he is the husband of the mayor, we might consider it as election-related as well. Just might, though.]

The poll chairman also urged the Philippine National Police to update the list of areas of concern, with 38 currently under the red category – the highest risk level – for the May midterm elections.

“We’re hoping na wala namang malalagay sa Comelec control na kahit anong area [We’re hoping no area will be put under Comelec control],” Garcia said.

Earlier this week, Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Omar Samama, a reelectionist, survived a shooting while speaking during a medical mission. Garcia said this was automatically considered election-related, as Samama is a candidate in the local polls.

The poll body has noted a spike in election-related violence in Bangsamoro, particularly in Maguindanao and Cotabato. While the first parliamentary elections in the region have been moved to Oct. 3, elections for other local and national positions are still scheduled for May 12.