Maguindanao Sur clash claims 2

COTABATO CITY — Authorities reported on Sunday that a candidate for the municipal council and another person were killed Saturday in a police operation in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur.

Reports also said that eight others were disarmed and arrested.

Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, identified the slain candidate as Emran Mamalinta, who was running for a seat in the Pandag town council.

Those arrested were identified as Jhopit Sarabon Gampong, Mohamad Macapeges Andil, Samer Macapeges Andil and Usop Gampong Mamidted, all members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team; and Keji Mamalinta Esmail, Embran Laguialam Salandangan, Rahim Esmail Mamalinta and Abdulrahman Tumba Mamalinta, all residents of Pandag town.

“We are assuring the voters that the election will go through in Padag as scheduled,” Ventura said in a statement, adding that police and military forces are in place to secure Monday’s elections.

He narrated that two armed groups clashed in four villages of Pandag at dawn Saturday.

Responding officers from the 4th Special Action Battalion, supported by military forces, were attacked while attempting to pacify the situation, leading to a four-hour firefight.