Election officer, husband killed in Datu Odin Sinsuat ambush

An election officer and her husband were killed in a shooting incident in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Wednesday morning, according to the provincial police.

Based on a police report, the victims identified as Jojo Abo and town’s election officer Atty. Maceda L. Abo came from their home and traversing the Cotabato-Sharrif Aguak Road in Barangay Makir when the incident happened.

The report said unidentified gunmen fired shots at the victims’ vehicle around 8:20 a.m.

The two victims were brought to Datu Odin Sinsuat District Hospital, according to the police.

“Victims were rushed to nearest hospital but Mr. Abo was pronounced dead on arrival while Atty. Maceda Abo [was] severely injured,” the police report said.

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

The lawyer’s personal staff was unharmed in the incident, the police said.

Investigators arrived at the place of incident and conducted an ocular investigation, according to the police. Recovered from the crime scene were ten pieces of fired cartridge cases believed to be from a 5.56 caliber firearm.

Investigators are searching for possible witnesses and requested for the review of CCTV footage near the area.

A hot pursuit operation was launched for the capture and identification of the perpetrators.

Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia said he will recommend placing Datu Odin Sinsuat under the control of the poll body because of the incident

“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.) — Joviland Rita/RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News

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