Comelec probing if Maguindanao del Sur shooting linked to Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is investigating if the shooting incident in Datu Piang,  Maguindanao del Sur that left a candidate injured is related to Eleksyon 2025, poll body chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday.

“Iniimbestigahan pa sa kasalukuyan pero…any violence sa kasalukuyan patungkol sa isang kumakandidato o sa isang incumbent na kumakandidato ay palaging sinu-suspect natin as election-related violence,” Garcia  told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Investigation is ongoing but any current violence linked to a candidate or an incumbent seeking reelection is suspected as election-related violence.)

Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama, who is seeking reelection in the May 2025 elections, was hurt after he was shot Monday while giving a speech.  Samama was brought to the hospital for treatment and is now recuperating.

Garcia earlier condemned the incident. 

He also said the Comelec is expecting the number of areas considered as election hotspots to increase as the May 12 elections near. The poll body is also eyeing to study the possibility of placing other areas with reported violence under Comelec control.

“Ang mga areas na katulad niyan na may karahasan, pupuwedeng makonsider na namin na mapag-aralan kung malalagay sa Comelec control,” he added.

(Areas like that which have had violence may be considered to be studied if they can be placed under Comelec control.)

In January, the Comelec placed at least 38 areas of concern under the “red” category ahead of the 2025 national and local elections. Among them is Datu Piang town.

Comelec Resolution No. 11067 states that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are to classify all areas in the country under four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.

Areas under the green category are those with no security concerns or are relatively peaceful and orderly for the conduct of elections.

Yellow areas have reported suspected election-related incidents in the past two polls, provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups. The areas should also be previously declared under Comelec control and reported the possible presence of armed groups and intense political rivalries.

Orange areas should have the combination of two or more factors under the yellow category; and should have serious armed threats posed by communist terror groups (CTGs) or other threat groups.

Meanwhile, red areas meet the parameters for areas under the yellow category and have serious threats posed by CTGs or other threat groups. Security forces will focus on monitoring these areas with the possibility for violence and intense political fights among local candidates. —KG, GMA Integrated News

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