The election officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte and her husband were killed in an ambush on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Datu Odin Sinsuat election officer, Atty. Maceda Lidasan Abo, was heading to work with her husband, Jojo, when they were ambushed by armed men in Barangay Makir around 8 a.m.

The victims were rushed to the hospital, but Jojo was declared dead on arrival. Atty. Abo died a few hours later.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) condemned the killing, especially that the election is approaching.

“Ito po ay kinokondena natin ng COMELEC. We strongly condemn the ambush incident na nangyari kanina. Election officer Maceda Abo kaisa-isang election officer sa BARMM during sa awarding ceremony na ginawa sa COMELEC Manila,” Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Election Supervisor, Atty. Nabil Mutia, said.

Authorities are investigating the incident to identify the perpetrator and determine the motive.

“Ang nakapagtaka wala naming nagrereklamo sa atin dito sa ating tanggapan na inirereklamo siya na may ginawang illegal. Kaya ngayon palaisipan sa amin kung ano talaga ang motibo na nangyari yung kanina yung pagpaslang sa mag-asawa,” Mutia added.

In a statement, the Bangsamoro government also condemned the “act of violence that happened during the sacred month of Ramadan.”

“We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. Let it be knonw: there is no place for criminals in BARMM. Violence and evil deeds have no room in our society – not now, not ever. We are building a region rooted in justice, faith, and compassion, and those who choose to harm the innocent will be met with the full force of the law,” reads part of the statement.