Newly-proclaimed barangay kagawad shot dead in Cotabato — PNP

A newly-proclaimed barangay kagawad was gunned down beside a barangay hall in Midsayap, Cotabato on Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

“Sa Region 12 po, meron po tayong nai-report na shooting incident involving ang newly-proclaimed councilor. After ng proclamation niya, siya ay naging biktima ng shooting incident,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said at a press conference.

(In Region 12, we have a reported shooting incident involving a newly-proclaimed councilor. After his proclamation, he became a victim of a shooting incident.)

According to Midsayap Municipal Police Station, the victim was identified as Suharto Antilino who was recently proclaimed barangay kagawad of Barangay Poblacion.

Around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Antilino was talking to another person when the gunman approached and fired shots at him, the police said.

Before shooting Antilino, Midsayap police said the gunman allegedly said to the victim in their local dialect, “Don’t be like that, cousin.”

Fajardo said aside from Antilino’s case, the PNP has not monitored any other election-related incidents after the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

BSKE-related violent incidents

So far, the PNP has monitored 275 violent incidents suspected to be related to the elections. Of which, 47 have been confirmed to be connected with the just-concluded polls.

The current number of validated BSKE-related incidents is already higher compared to the only 40 violent incidents recorded in 2018, according to the PNP.

A total of 122 incidents suspected to be related to the polls are still undergoing validation, while 106 have been confirmed to be unrelated to the elections.

Most of the confirmed BSKE-related incidents were reported in Bangsamoro with 16 cases, followed by Northern Mindanao with 13, and Cordillera with five.

Most of these violent incidents involved shooting with 19 cases, physical injury with seven, mauling with four, and kidnapping with three.

As for the election gun ban, the PNP said 2,100 individuals have been arrested and 1,589 firearms have been confiscated.

‘No cops backed out from BSKE duty’

Meanwhile, Fajardo clarified that there were no police personnel who backed out from their duties during the BSKE.

“As far as PNP is concerned, we just confirmed this morning sa ating Directorate for Operations ay wala pong umatras (with our Directorate for Operations that no police personnel backed out),” she said.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) vowed to file criminal and administrative charges against teachers and cops who delayed the 2023 BSKE due to their sudden withdrawal for their duties.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said, “If we study the Omnibus Election Code, criminal po iyon eh, at the same time, administrative. Hindi kasi puede [na ganun na lang eh] kasi otherwise, mauulit nang mauulit.”

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier expressed support for the plan to file charges against cops and teachers who backed out from their poll duties at the last minute.

Abalos said an investigation should be conducted first to determine if these poll workers had valid reasons for suddenly quitting from the tasks. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News