Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, October 8, 2024 – Tensions flared during the last day of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, leading to a violent confrontation that left one person dead and six others injured. The violence erupted amidst the candidacy filing of Kagi Ali Midtimbang and a reported attempt by a wanted individual to run for vice mayor.
According to local police, the incident occurred when authorities tried to serve an arrest warrant to a vice mayoral candidate, who is facing multiple charges in court. The suspect, who was attempting to file his candidacy, allegedly only carried a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) from his political party but lacked the required COC documents. The filing process was disrupted when supporters of the suspect and law enforcement personnel exchanged gunfire outside the municipal hall gate.
The commotion resulted in the injury of six individuals, including three local residents and three others from the group associated with the vice mayoral candidate. Amid the chaos, the suspect managed to flee the scene.
Further complicating the situation, several vehicles in the convoy of Kagi Ali Midtimbang were pelted with stones by unidentified individuals in Maganoy, Shariff Aguak. Midtimbang, a prominent political figure, was at the Comelec office filing his COC when the attack on his convoy occurred. His supporters have called for an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident.
In the midst of these escalating tensions, reports confirmed the death of one individual due to the gunfire, while several others sustained injuries. The local police, led by Shariff Aguak PNP Chief Lt. Col. Reggie Albellera, stated that the situation quickly spiraled out of control as armed groups exchanged fire near the Comelec compound.
Authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, and heightened security measures have been implemented in Shariff Aguak to prevent further violence. The situation has cast a shadow over the otherwise routine COC filing process, raising concerns about election-related violence in the region.
As the 2025 elections draw near, this incident highlights the volatility and risks associated with local political rivalries in Maguindanao del Sur, a province with a history of election-related violence.
