BARMM town exec slain as election period starts

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A municipal councilor in Midsayap town, part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was killed in an ambush on Thursday. The incident occurred on the first day of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections for the upcoming Bangsamoro electoral exercise. Nasser Dalandang, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kadayangan, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital. He was known for his involvement in peace-building efforts in his community. Dalandang was driving in Barangay Salunayan when two gunmen waylaid him. No witnesses have come forward, and details of the attack are under investigation. Relatives expressed belief that the killers are also residents of Kadayangan, and that the killing was job-related. Kadayangan belongs to the Special Geographic Area in Cotabato, which is under the administrative jurisdiction of the BARMM. The BARMM is set to hold its first parliamentary election on September 14. This incident raises concerns about potential security issues during the election period. Political violence, particularly targeting politicians and public officials, has been a recurring issue in the Philippines, especially in some provincial areas, posing challenges to maintaining peace and order.