Authorities conduct inspections after an explosion in Cotabato City, September 13, 2026. Lerio Bompat, ABS-CBN News
COTABATO CITY (2nd UPDATE) — One person was reported wounded in an explosion in Purok Amirol, Barangay Mother Kalanganan in Cotabato City around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, hours before the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
Police identified the injured man as a resident of Poblacion 1, Cotabato City.
Initial investigation showed that the victim was waiting for his construction foreman when he reportedly saw a flash of white light, followed by a loud explosion. The blast caused him to fall to the ground. He later realized that he had sustained injuries.
Police Station 4 of the Cotabato City Police Office received a call from a concerned citizen about the incident at around 8:05 p.m.
Personnel from Police Station 4, led by Police Major Eduardo Malicdem, immediately responded to the area and launched an investigation. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal or EOD team also conducted a clearing operation at the scene.
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Authorities have yet to determine the type of explosive involved and the motive behind the incident. Police are also working to identify who is responsible for the explosion.
Just minutes later, another explosion was recorded in Datu Udtog Matalam, Barangay Rosary Heights 10. A concerned citizen alerted Police Station 2 about the explosion, prompting personnel led by Police Major Tugaya Alfonso to immediately respond to the area.
Upon arrival, police confirmed that an explosion had occurred.
The blast was believed to have originated from a pile of garbage, with pieces of rubbish found scattered around the area. No casualties were reported.
Police Station 2 has requested the City Explosive and Canine Unit to process the scene and determine the cause and nature of the explosion.
Authorities have yet to identify any suspect or determine the motive behind the incident.
Hours before the explosion in the area, gun shots were heard in an alleged strafing incident. Authorities are searching for unidentified men who allegedly fired several shots in Purok Bagal.
No one was reported hurt or killed in the incident.
According to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), police received a report about the incident at around 5:05 p.m., about five minutes after the gunfire was heard.
Initial investigation showed that several men allegedly got out of a black minivan without a license plate and suddenly fired their weapons before fleeing, according to a witness.
Authorities recovered seven fired cartridge cases and one unfired 5.56mm round from the scene.
Authorities will subject the recovered evidence to ballistic examination.
Police are interviewing possible witnesses and are also seeking CCTV footage from nearby houses and establishments to help identify the suspects and determine their escape route.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.
These incidents occurred amid heightened security preparations across the city ahead of Monday’s polls.
VOTING IN COTABATO CITY
In Cotabato City, 137 police personnel have been designated as Special Electoral Boards. The city has 250 clustered precincts in 31 voting centers.
A total of 131,071 registered voters from Cotabato City’s 37 barangays are expected to participate in the elections.
Cotabato City is divided into three parliamentary districts.
The 1st Parliamentary District covers Rosary Heights Mother, Rosary Heights I to VII, Rosary Heights IX, Poblacion IV, and Poblacion VIII.
The 2nd Parliamentary District covers Bagua Mother, Bagua I to III, Poblacion V and VI, Kalanganan Mother, Kalanganan I and II, and Rosary Heights X to XIII.
The 3rd Parliamentary District includes Tamontaka Mother, Tamontaka I to V, Rosary Heights VIII, Poblacion Mother, and Poblacion II, III, and IX.
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Voters from Poblacion I and Poblacion VII will not vote for candidates in Cotabato City’s three parliamentary districts as they are part of the 3rd Parliamentary District of Maguindanao del Norte.
Across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, more than 2.3 million registered voters from 105 municipalities and three cities are expected to cast their ballots in the region’s first parliamentary elections.
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