QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Personnel from the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police successfully responded to and controlled an incident of indiscriminate firing that occurred during the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy/Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (COC/CONA) in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, on October 8.
According to a report from the Philippine Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion (40IB), under the 601st Brigade, Joint Task Force Central, the incident took place while troops and the Shariff Aguak Municipal Police Station (MPS), led by PLt. Col. Regie G. Albellera, Officer-in-Charge of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, were conducting security operations around the Shariff Aguak Municipal Compound. Two groups along the highway were seen in a heated argument, which later escalated into a shooting incident.
The indiscriminate firing occurred approximately 50 meters from the COC/CONA filing site near the municipal office. Troops from the 40IB, led by 1Lt. Ramirez (INF) PA and personnel from the Shariff Aguak PNP responded immediately but were fired upon by about 10 fully armed men from multiple undetermined directions. The troops quickly took defensive positions and returned fire.
The incident resulted in the wounding of three civilians. They were immediately evacuated to the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Maguindanao for medical attention and are reported to be in stable condition.
The report further detailed that the troops quickly took defensive positions and returned fire toward the enemy’s location. The firefight lasted for about 15 minutes, after which the assailants withdrew toward the northeast.
A platoon, led by 1Lt. Ramirez (INF) PA, along with a Scout Platoon of the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) led by 2Lt. Castillo (INF) PA, and another section of the Scout Platoon led by 2Lt. Raymundo (INF) PA, all from the 40IB, alongside the PNP, conducted clearing operations in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene and the municipal compound.
Meanwhile, a section from Bravo Company, 40IB, led by 1Lt. Dosol (INF) PA, in coordination with a Scout Platoon of the 62nd DRC led by 1Lt. Velez (INF) PA carried out route security and a blocking operation.
According to PNP spokesperson, PBGen. Jean Fajardo, although they regard the incident as isolated, it will still undergo validation to assess its potential impact on the upcoming elections. (PIA DMD)
