MANILA — A five-hour gunfight near a voting precinct in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur during the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections injured two people and damaged some buildings, leading to the arrest of ten people, police said Tuesday.
Maguindanao del Sur police chief PCol. Michael John Mangahis said they had identified the groups initially engaged in the firefight.
“Ito ang group ng ating incumbent na mayor (ng Shariff Saydona Mustapha) na lumalaban as district parliamentary representative. So ang naka-engage naman nila is yung group ng isang MILF, 105th base command under Commander Maladz,” he told ABS-CBN News.
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The gunfight started following a commotion at the voting center when two groups allegedly from different parties encountered each other at Nabundas Elementary School.
“Nagkaroon ng kantyawan, and then, nagkapikunan. Then doon nag-escalate. Nagkaroon ng pisikal, nagkaroon ng komosyon, nagkahabulan, hanggang doon sa may compound ng municipality ng Shariff Saydona Mustapha,” he said.
A member of the police Special Action Force and a male civilian were injured in the gunfight.
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“Iimbestigahan namin both sides. And then, nung kami ay dumating na doon sa compound ng munisipyo, kami na yung ine-engage ng grupo ng certain Commander Maladz. So yun ang tinitingnan namin,” Mangahis said.
“Initially, ang gagawin namin, mag-file kami ng protest sa CCCH AHJAG regarding doon sa pangyayari. Then i-establish namin ang mga kasama niya. Ma-file-an sila ng kaso kasi mayroon kaming tropa na nasugatan, he added.
In videos posted on social media, PNP and military personnel could be seen taking positions and firing shots at the armed group, while tanks from the SAF were also deployed in front of the municipal hall compound.
Gunshot holes and damage to the concrete wall of the compound of Shariff Saydona Mustapha’s municipal hall were left following the gunfight.
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PSMS. Alimudin Malik of the Shariff Saydona Mustapha Municipal Police Station showed the gunshot damage to the glass window of their police station, as well as the rice field and coconut plantations fronting the municipal hall compound, about half a kilometer away, where the armed group fired their shots.
The gunfight caused fear among residents and voters at Nabundas Elementary School, where voting was temporarily suspended but eventually resumed.
Mangahis said the gunfight started at 11:30 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m.
“Tinitingnan natin kung kakasuhan, depende sa lumabas na investigation. Of course, sa may firearms, illegal possession of firearms and violation of Comelec gun ban,” Mangahis said.
Meanwhile, the PNP said the incident in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, one of the three towns placed under the red category, the highest level among areas of concern, was the lone incident of violence recorded in Maguindanao del Sur on election day.
“Generally, kung titingnan mo, napakatahimik sana at very smooth ang electoral process. Walang complain sa both parties na narinig tayo. Wala talaga, zero. Wala kaming shooting incidents, walang mga explosion, walang bomb threats, walang flying voters, walang nagba-block ng voters, except for Saydona Mustapha,” he said.
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