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Comelec: Security upped following BARMM chief ambush
🇵🇭 Philippines /Elections & Politics

Comelec: Security upped following BARMM chief ambush

From Philippine Daily Inquirer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Commission on Elections (Comelec) increased security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after an ambush targeting its interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
  • Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco stated the security increase is proportionate and aims to avoid alarming the public, while checkpoints have also been expanded.
  • The ambush is believed to be election-related, occurring during the campaign period and shortly after Macacua joined a new regional party.

Security measures have been heightened in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following an ambush that targeted interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed the deployment of additional security personnel, though spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco emphasized that the increase is calibrated to avoid creating a sense of militarization in the area.

Ayaw naming magmukhang militarize yung lugar.

— John Rex LaudiangcoComelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco explaining the rationale behind not over-militarizing the area after increasing security.

Laudiangco noted that the decision to bolster security was a natural response to a perceived threat. "If there's something to watch out for," he explained, "it's only natural to increase the security personnel." He declined to specify the exact number of deployed personnel, citing security protocols, but confirmed that checkpoints across the BARMM have been expanded from 18,000 to over 24,000.

If there's something to watch out for, it's only natural to increase the security personnel.

— John Rex LaudiangcoComelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco on the decision to deploy more security personnel.

The Comelec views the ambush as an election-related incident, given its timing during the campaign period and shortly after Macacua's oath-taking with a new regional party. "We are now considering this as an election-related incident," Laudiangco stated. Despite this, the Comelec hopes the incident remains isolated. The attack occurred on August 15 in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao del Norte, with Macacua surviving the ambush.

Kami po tinuturing na namin ito talagang election-related incident. Why? It happened during the election period. It happened during the campaign period. Then it happened immediately after na mag-take oath yung Interim Chief Minister sa kaniyang political party.

— John Rex LaudiangcoComelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco explaining why the ambush is considered election-related.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Philippine Daily Inquirer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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