A TOWN in Maguindanao del Norte has been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following the ambush and killing of its election officer and his wife.
The decision comes as Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia confirmed the death of the election officer in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, during an ambush.
Garcia stated that he will recommend to the Comelec en banc that the town be placed under Comelec control due to security concerns. He emphasized that they will not tolerate further violence.
At this time, there is no known motive for the killing, and the investigation has been turned over to the police and military. Garcia stated that they are awaiting a report from authorities later today.
Atty. Maceda Abo, the Election Officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat, and his wife were shot multiple times by unidentified assailants while traveling in their SUV on the Cotabato-Shariff Aguak Road in Barangay Makir, Datu Odin Sinsuat. His wife died in the incident.
Garcia expressed his condolences, noting that this marks the fourth attack on Comelec local officials. The only survivor of these attacks is the Provincial Election Supervisor of Sulu.
