The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially placed Cotabato City and the municipality of Maluso in Basilan under COMELEC control following a series of violent incidents and reports of pre-shaded ballots on the day of the 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said the decision was prompted by a series of incidents that occurred on the eve of the elections, including a shooting, an explosion involving an improvised explosive device (IED), and reports of pre-shaded ballots.
The move comes after three people were killed and 15 others were injured when a shooting broke out outside a school in Cotabato City late Sunday night, just hours before the opening of the BARMM parliamentary elections.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on September 13 at the Datu Usman Mampen Elementary School in Barangay Bagua 2, where supporters of rival political groups were allegedly arguing over their place in the queue.
Initial police investigation showed that the dispute escalated from a verbal altercation into a physical confrontation before an unidentified gunman opened fire.
Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro spokesperson Steffi Salanguit confirmed the shooting, saying the victims and suspects were among those waiting at the school to vote.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from a dispute that began as a joke before tensions escalated.
Two victims were initially declared dead at the scene, while another later died. The 15 injured victims, all reportedly men, were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Authorities recovered spent bullet casings believed to have come from .45-caliber and 9mm pistols at the scene.
The bodies of the three fatalities have since been claimed by their families for burial.
Meanwhile, an explosion was also reported Sunday night in the Malagapas area of Cotabato City.
A garbage bin reportedly exploded after an IED or similar explosive device was allegedly placed inside it. No injuries were reported, but the explosion caused alarm among residents.
Aside from the violent incidents, COMELEC also cited reports of pre-shaded ballots as among the reasons for placing Cotabato City and Maluso, Basilan under its control.
Under COMELEC control, the poll body assumes direct supervision and control over local officials and law enforcement agencies to help ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the elections.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incidents as voting proceeds for the first-ever BARMM parliamentary elections.
