1 killed, 5 hurt in Shariff Aguak shooting during candidacy filing

Metro Manila, Philippines — A person was killed and five others injured in a shooting in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur amid the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for next year’s polls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

PNP spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo said the victim was a supporter of Mayor Datu Akmad Ampatuan. One of the injured is in critical condition.

Fajardo said the shooting on Tuesday, at around 12:30 p.m., happened 300 meters from a local election office,

She said six people were involved – three supporters of the sitting mayor and three supporters of a mayoral aspirant.

“Since nangyari po ito ay nagbigay po ng utos ‘yung ating chief PNP [PGen Rommel Marbil] mas lalo pong paigtingin ‘yung ginagawa po nating pagbabantay, lalong-lalo na doon sa areas na meron na tayong namo-monitor at kumpirmadong intense political rivalries dahil pagkatapos po nitong pagpa-file ng COCs ay inaasahan din po natin na mas magiging mainit, lalong-lalo na doon sa side ng supporters,” Fajardo said in a press briefing.

[Translation: Since this happened, our PNP chief gave an order to strengthen our guards, especially in areas where we monitored and confirmed intense political rivalries because after the COC filing, we expect the situation to further heat up, particularly on the side of supporters.]

Marbil has ordered the police to increase patrol in border controls and conduct unannounced strategic checkpoints, said Fajardo.

She said the Shariff Aguak shooting was the only violence during the COC filing.

“Pangkalahatan ay naging mapayapa, maayos, at ligtas naman po ‘yung pagpa-file ng COCs nationwide,” Fajardo said.

[Translation: In general, the COC filing nationwide was peaceful, organized, and safe.]