(UPDATED) An election officer in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte and her husband were killed in an ambush Wednesday morning, March 26, 2025.
In a report, the police said unidentified assailants fired upon the victims, Lawyer Maceda Abo, an election officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat, and her husband Jojo, along Cotabato-Sharrif Aguak road in Barangay Makir at 8:20 a.m.
A hot pursuit operation was activated against the suspects.
In a statement, Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Lester Sinsuat condemned the incident.
It has called for the cooperation of its residents in the arrest of the suspects and the police and military for the conduct of an in-depth investigation on the matter and to strengthen the security operations in the area, especially ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said because of this incident, he will recommend placing Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte under the poll body’s control.
“Kasi may mga ilan nang karahasan ang nangyari nitong mga nakaraang linggo at buwan diyan sa lugar na ‘yan, kaya nararapat lang na mailagay sa Comelec control,” he said.
“Noong araw na pumunta tayo doon (March 18, 2025), dalawa ag nasawi sa area na yon. Isang abogado ng kandidato sa lugar na ‘yon, babae, at ‘yung kaniyang fianće. Ngayon naman, election officer namin at ang kaniyang asawa. Siguro naman kahit sino ang tumimbang nito nararapat lang na ilagay sa Comelec control ang Datu Odin Sinsuat,” he added.
(On the day we went there [March 18, 2025], two people died in that area. One was a lawyer of a candidate in that place, a woman, and her fiancé. Now, it’s our election officer and his wife. Surely, anyone who weighs this would agree that it is only right for Datu Odin Sinsuat to be placed under Comelec control.) (TPM/VoxPop Philippines)