Comelec: Datu Odin Sinsuat ambush no reason to postpone BARMM polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday said the ambush in Barangay Dulangan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, was an isolated incident and not a reason to postpone the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Nakausap ng aming tauhan (si BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof ‘Sammy Gambar’ Macacua) and sabi niya feeling it ay maaaring isolated incident,” Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Our personnel talked to BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, and he said he felt the ambush might be an isolated incident.)

“Tingnan natin kung ‘yan ba ang kadahilanan o resulta ng kanyang panunumpa at pagiging chairman ng naturang partido,” he added.

(We’re investigating whether the ambush was related to his recent oath-taking as chairman of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party.)

Macacua and his entourage escaped unharmed after armed assailants ambushed their convoy on Saturday afternoon.

He was traveling from his hometown in Barangay Gambar, Mother Kabuntalan, when the incident occurred.

Macacua had attended the proclamation rally of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), which he recently joined and where he was named chairman after previously running as an independent candidate in the province’s third district.

Garcia said the ambush should not be the basis for placing Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control, as the poll body was avoiding any move that could create tension in the municipality.

He said the poll body was assessing whether the ambush was election-related.

An investigation is also underway to identify and locate the suspects, according to Garcia.

“Base sa mga nakuhang impormasyon, may mga lead na sila. In the next few days, maaaring magkaroon ng mga pag-aresto,” Garcia said.

(Based on the information gathered, they already have some leads. Arrests may be made in the next few days.)

In a separate statement, the Philippine Army said it remained committed to helping ensure the peaceful, orderly and credible conduct of the BARMM elections.

“The Philippine Army is committed to helping ensure that the Bangsamoro voters can exercise the right to elect their next leaders,” Lieutenant General Donald Gumiran, Philippine Army commanding general, said.

“In coordination with the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police, and other concerned agencies, we will continue to perform our mandate within the bounds of the law and remain vigilant against armed groups and other threats that may undermine the electoral process,” he added.— MCG, GMA News