Troops use chili spray to pacify supporters of rival bets in Maguindanao del Sur

Soldiers from the 601st Infantry Brigade sprayed a mix of alcohol and crushed chili on supporters of rival candidates in Maguindanao del Sur on Monday. 

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the soldiers were asking the supporters to calm down as residents cast their votes. 

“Para po sa kapayapaan na hinihiling natin, manggagaling ‘yan dapat sa atin. Nakikiusap po tayo, lahat ng tapos na, dahan-dahan po tayong mag-exit,” a soldier requested to people in a voting precinct. 

(If we want peace, it should start from us. Everyone who is already done casting their vote can now exit.) 

Fortunately, the elections in the province were generally peaceful. 

“Additional forces or yung augmentation, naka-contribute yun nang malaki kaya nagkaroon tayo nang ganitong relatively successful conduct ng election dito sa area,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rod Orbon, Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division spokesperson.

The provincial canvassing was held at the 6th Infantry Division camp to ensure security. 

Ali Midtimbang, 75, was elected as the first governor of Maguindanao del Sur following the province’s split into two areas in 2022. 

“Nagpasalamat ako talaga sa mga taong nag-suporta pati yung hindi pa nag-suporta sa akin pinasalamatan ko pa rin na wala naman gulo sa time of election namin,” he said. 

(I’m thankful to my supporters and even to those who did not support me because everything was peaceful in this election.) 

Meanwhile, his running mate Ustadz Hisham Nando was elected as vice governor. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News