The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) vehemently condemns the separate attacks committed against barangay officials in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Sur. It is important to note that these incidents occurred before the supposed plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament Bill 223 to be conducted on 07 September 2024, but was halted by the Supreme Court following a decision published on 21 August 2024.[1]
According to reports, Esmael Latip Mustapha, barangay chairperson of Bulibod, and his wife, Rahima, who also served as a barangay secretary, were shot dead by unidentified assailants while they were on their way home. They were attacked by at least six heavily-armed individuals on 18 August 2024.
Meanwhile, Amado Serra, barangay chairperson of Laguilayan, was reportedly gunned down by a riding-in-tandem while he was driving on 19 August 2024. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Serra was pronounced dead due to multiple gunshot wounds.
The Commission has taken cognisance of these incidents and has deployed a Quick Response Operation (QRO) team to ascertain the truth behind these deaths and whether these are politically motivated.
We reiterate that protecting the sanctity of the Filipino people’s vote also entails ensuring the protection of local officials duly elected by their constituents. These killings, if left unresolved, will only compromise the safety and welfare of the voters in the plebiscite, including the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
The CHR acknowledges the prompt action of the local police in identifying the perpetrators involved in these incidents. We call for a thorough and impartial investigation into these attacks in order to also alleviate the fears of the constituents.
It is important that in a democratic country, we take all the necessary measures to ensure that the credibility of our electoral processes remain unperturbed before, during, and after the actual polls. We remain firm that continued occurrences of violence against officials impacts the safe environment of our localities, thereby affecting the decision of voters in the next elections.
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[1] SC Orders COMELEC to Halt Plebiscites for New Bangsamoro Municipalities, 21 August 2024 https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-orders-comelec-to-halt-plebiscites-for-new-bangsamoro-municipalities/