The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 7 has condemned strongly the slay of a colleague in the Province of Maguindanao del Norte. 

An election officer in the Municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat was slain in an ambush morning on March 26, 2025. Her husband was also killed in the incident.  

Atty. Francisco Pobe, regional director of COMELEC Central Visayas, confirmed he is familiar with the lady-election officer as they were previous work colleagues when he was assigned in Mindanao. 

Pobe has condemned strongly the slay, citing the extreme wickedness of the act.

“Yes, we really, really condemn. I was assigned there. I know that election officer very much. What is very sad is ang pagpatay sa iyaha, usa ka babae, nga ila rang giluthang,” Pobe said. 

“Ikaduha, nagtrabaho na siya. Paingon siya sa iyang trabaho. It was a morning routine. Kuyog man gani iyang bana,” he added.

Pobe said that the savage act is highly unacceptable in a democratic society. 

“Kami sa Commission on Elections hugot namong gikondenar kining walay taras ug dili maayong binuhatan sa atong isig kaingon,” Pobe said. 

Pobe further said the public must understand that COMELEC officials work to facilitate the elections with credibility and integrity, and that they are not even the “main actors” in the polls.

“Kani inyong gibuhat dili maayo ug tampalasan kaayo wala ni lugar sa usa ka demokratikanhon nga lugar,” Pobe said. 

(via Super John Kim Bote/GMA Super Radyo Cebu)