GUN BAN COMPLIANCE. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim gives an update on the regional situation in line with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30, 2023 during his interview at the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday (Aug. 31, 2023). He said the BARMM maintains compliance with the nationwide gun ban, with no reported violation so far. (Screengrab)

MANILA – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Thursday reported no violation of the nationwide gun ban in line with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

During the Laging Handa public briefing, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim said no untoward incident has been recorded so far.

“We are in coordination with the most PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Command in the area, so maganda naman ang pagtutulungan at monitored na wala namang violations sa ipinapatupad na gun ban ng national government (the coordination is good and there’s no monitored violation of gun ban implemented by the national government),” he said.

“So far, okay naman sa buong rehiyon ang filing of candidacy sa Barangay and SK Elections (So far, the filing of the certificate of candidacy for barangay and SK Elections is going well),” Ebrahim added.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10918 says the “bearing, carrying, and transport of firearms and other deadly weapons” are prohibited during the election period.

Election-related violence

Meanwhile, the Comelec clarified classifications of earlier reports of violence that happened in Albay, Rizal, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the majority of these four cases were classified as non-election related incidents based on the reports of PNP and AFP.

The incident in Libon, Albay, involving re-electionist Barangay Captain Alex Repato who was shot dead last Aug. 28 allegedly by a private armed group (PAG), is still undergoing validation.

“(However, incidents involving) Barangay Kagawad Reliosa Mata (Brgy. Nogpo), Barangay Captain Oscar Maronilla (Brgy. San Pascual), and Barangay Kagawad Salvador Olivares (Brgy. Bariw) cannot be classified as election-related incidents as these occurred prior to the election period,” Laudiangco said.

The report also involving several barangay tanods in Cainta, Rizal was confirmed to be a “personal altercation due to issues Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA)” and not related to the polls.

Reported violence against four police officers in Datu Salibo in Maguindanao last Aug. 29, meanwhile, was classified to be under the continuing drive against criminality and local terrorism.

A reported casualty involving Barangay Malingaw aspirant captain Haron Dimanes in Midsayap, North Cotabato was validated to be due to a “family feud,” which stemmed from another incident before the election period.

Task forces have been created to monitor investigations and situations in Libon, Albay and Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Laudiangco said they augmented police forces, with at least two PNP security for all aspiring barangay captains, to Libon, Albay.

He also cited AFP’s activation of its Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit and reservists, alongside 24/7 operations of law enforcement hotlines, in these areas. (PNA)