PNP: 1 killed, 5 wounded in last day of Maguindanao del Sur's COC filing

One person was killed and five others were injured as violence marred the last day of the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 elections in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said that the incident happened around 200 to 300 meters from a municipal office of the Commission of Elections (Comelec).

“Ang nangyari raw po nito allegedly kino-confirm po nila na dito po sa anim na biktima, na isa ang namatay at lima ang wounded at kasalukuyang nasa ospital,” Fajardo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB..

(They are confirming that from the six victims, one of whom died and five who were wounded and are currently in the hospital.)

She said the PNP is looking into the possibility that the incident was election-related as three of the six involved people are supporters of the incumbent mayor and the other three are supporters of a challenger in the 2025 polls.

The PNP will also study if the area should be included in the election areas of concern following the incident, according to Fajardo.

“Kung titignan po natin yung color categorization, unang-una dyan ang tinitignan po natin ay yung kung meron po talagang intense political rivalry at meron na rin pong occurrence na mga politically-motivated election-related incident ay definitely papasok po yan sa election areas of concern,” Fajardo said.

(If we look at the color categorization, the first thing we look at is that if there is really intense political rivalry and there is also an occurrence of politically-motivated election-related incidents, the concerned area will definitely be included in the election areas of concern.)

According to a report of GMA Integrated News' 24 Oras on Tuesday, the conflict erupted in Shariff Aguak when supporters thought their candidates were unable to file their COCs.

A series of Facebook livestream videos from the Shariff Aguak Municipal Police showed cops responding to gunshots near the town's municipal hall, as well as people throwing rocks.

“Ito lamang incident na itala po natin sa loob ng walong araw ng pagpa-file ng COC dahil sa kabuuan naman naging mapayapa ang naging pagpa-file ng COC,” Fajardo said.

(This is the only incident that we have recorded within the eight days of COC filing because overall the COC filing was peaceful.)