SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte — Another incident of gun-related violence erupted Tuesday morning despite the ongoing gun ban in relation to the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
The victim, identified as Samsodin Taruyan, a resident of Ibutegen, Sultan Kudarat in the same province, was fatally shot by an unidentified assailant in Barangay Raguisi past 7:00 a.m. Taruyan died instantly at the scene.
Authorities from the Philippine National Police (PNP) are still conducting an investigation to establish the motive and identify the suspect behind the attack.
The killing adds to the growing concern over the persistence of armed violence in the region, even with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)–imposed gun ban now in effect to ensure orderly and peaceful polls. The incident underscores the continuing challenge of enforcing election security measures in Maguindanao del Norte, an area long marred by political tension and violence.