Garcia to recommend placing Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control

Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia said Wednesday he will recommend placing Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte under the control of the poll body following the death of an election officer and her husband. 

Garcia confirmed to reporters that election officer Atty. Maceda L. Abo died after an unidentified gunmen fired shots at her vehicle around 8:20 a.m. as she and her husband, Jojo Abo, were traversing the Cotabato-Sharrif Aguak Road in Barangay Makir.

The victims were rushed to Datu Odin Sinsuat District Hospital but Jojo Abo was declared dead on arrival while the severely injured election officer was treated.

The election officer was transferred to Cotabato Regional Medical Center for further treatment but later on died.

“Isang napakalungkot na pangyayari ang pagpaslang sa aming election officer sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, si Mrs. Maceda Lidasan-Abo na kasama ang kaniyang asawa na nagda-drive ng sasakyan… Kaya ako mismo ay magre-recommend sa Commission en banc na ang  Datu Odin Sinsuat ay ilagay sa Comelec control,” said Garcia. 

(We are very saddened with what happened to our election officer in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Mrs. Maceda Lidasan-Abo and her husband were killed while driving their vehicle. Because of this, we will recommend to the Commission en banc placing the town under Comelec control.)

The incident occurred a week after some gubernatorial bets in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur signed a peace covenant affirming their commitment to the safe and peaceful conduct of Eleksyon 2025.

Maceda was present during the signing, said Garcia. She was also preparing for the start of the local campaign period on March 28, as she attended a related meeting on Tuesday night.

“Whether it is election-related or not an election-related violence, at this point, ano pa ba naman ang magiging conclusion ng Comelec kundi election-related violence 'yan? Nangyari pa naman sa lugar kung saan nagkaroon tayo ng lagdaan ng kapayapaan,” said Garcia.

(Whether it is election-related or not an election-related violence, at this point, our conclusion is it is an election-related violence. It happened in the area where we just had a peace covenant.)

“Siguro naman kahit sinong tumimbang nito at kahit sinong tumingin dito, nararapat lang na ilagay sa Comelec control ang lugar na yan,” he said.

(I think anybody who would look at this would agree that the area should be placed under Comelec control.)

Once under the Comelec control, the poll body will have absolute control of the municipality. They will likewise deploy additional security personnel in Datu Odin Sinsuat and put up more checkpoints in the area.

“We will have a full and absolute control of the area. Kung saka-sakali we will lay down the necessary policies and guidelines kung paano ipapatupad ang Comelec control kung sakali ito ay papanigan nang ating kasamahan sa en banc,” he said.

(We will have a full and absolute control of the area. We will lay down the necessary policies and guidelines should the en banc heed my suggestion.)

Meanwhile, Garcia expressed worry over the incident, which occurred after the peace covenant signing and amid the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“Sinasabi namin, huwag na huwag pong sasaktan at tatakutin ang mga empleyado ng Comelec at ang mga botante dahil hindi po papayag ang Comelec sa ganiyang bagay,” he said. 

(We urge everybody not to hurt or threaten our Comelec personnel and the voters because the poll body will not let these incidents occur again.)

Meanwhile, the poll body lauded Maceda, calling her a “dedicated civil servant”.

“EO Bai Maceda Lidasan-Abo, Election Officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat was a dedicated civil servant,” said Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco.

“Her OEO was one of our Best Offices of the Election Officer in Voter Education in the COMELEC'S PRAISE Awards in 2024,” he said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.