Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur – October 21, 2024
A barangay official was shot dead on Saturday evening in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur, in what authorities are investigating as a politically motivated killing. The victim, identified as Toto Gogo Kensa, a 45-year-old barangay councilor (kagawad) of Barangay Labu-Labu 2, was gunned down while riding his motorcycle with his wife along the national highway.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that Kensa and his wife were on their way home after visiting the local market when two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached them and opened fire. Kensa sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead on the spot. His wife, Bai Norhaya, survived the attack with only minor injuries after their motorcycle crashed.
Authorities are considering politics as a possible motive for the attack, as Kensa had recently filed his candidacy for the position of municipal councilor in Datu Hoffer for the 2025 elections. He was running under the LAKAS-CMD party. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirmed that Kensa had filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the upcoming elections just days before the shooting.
Datu Hoffer Chief of Police, Lt. Albert Pansoy, announced that a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) will be formed to focus on the case. “Given the fact that Kensa was not only an incumbent barangay official but also an official candidate for the 2025 elections, we are intensifying our investigation to determine the suspects and the motive behind the killing,” Pansoy said.
The assassination has sent shockwaves through the local community, as Kensa was a well-known figure in Barangay Labu-Labu 2. His death comes amid heightened political tension in the region, where violence related to elections has been a recurring issue.
The PNP has vowed to leave no stone unturned in their investigation, assuring the public that justice will be served. “We are looking into all angles, particularly political rivalry, as Kensa had recently declared his intent to run for higher office,” Pansoy added.
Local authorities have urged witnesses to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying the assailants, who fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The tragic incident underscores the challenges faced by political candidates in areas where election-related violence remains a concern. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the safety of other candidates and officials in the run-up to the 2025 elections.
