Maguindanao del Sur: Two individuals, including a municipal council candidate, were killed, and eight others were disarmed and arrested during a police operation in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, reported that the deceased included Emran Mamalinta, a 40-year-old candidate for a Sangguniang Bayan seat in Pandag. The individuals 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, as well as Keji Mamalinta Esmail, Embran Laguialam Salandangan, Rahim Esmail Mamalinta, and Abdulrahman Tumba Mamalinta, all from Pandag town.

Lt. Col. Ventura assured voters that the elections in Pandag would proceed as scheduled, emphasizing that police and military forces were in place to ensure security during Monday’s elections. The incident occurred when two armed groups clashed in four villages of Pandag at dawn on Saturday. Officers from the 4th Special Action Battalion, supported by military forces, responded to the situation and were met with an attack, resulting in a four-hour firefight.

The subsequent clearing operation led to the recovery of three M16 rifles, two Garand rifles, an M203 rifle, three 40mm grenades, assorted ammunition, and personal belongings. On the same day, two soldiers were injured in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front members in Shariff Aguak town, also in Maguindanao del Sur. Brig. Gen. Patricio Ruben Amata, assistant commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, stated that soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Battalion were fired upon while patrolling the village of Kuloy, leading to a gun battle that lasted several hours. The situation has since been resolved, with both sides de-escalating.