Gunfire Erupts in Cotabato City Ahead of Philippine Parliamentary Elections, Leaving Three Dead and 15 Injured

Cotabato City, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : In Cotabato City, Philippines, a shooting incident occurred late Sunday night, just before the start of parliamentary elections, resulting in three deaths and 15 injuries. The violence erupted outside a polling station in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) just hours before voting was set to begin on Monday.

According to local police, the altercation stemmed from a dispute over queue positions among rival political factions. The situation escalated from shoving to physical confrontations, ultimately leading to gunfire in a crowded area.

Local media reports indicate that candidates from 13 political parties are vying for 80 parliamentary seats, with over two million registered voters eligible to cast their ballots. In anticipation of potential violence, security measures have been heightened across the BARMM region in recent days. More than 20,000 security personnel have been deployed at polling stations, and rapid response teams are on standby.

This historic election is seen as a significant step toward self-governance in a region that has faced decades of insurgency and violence. Approximately 2.4 million registered voters are expected to participate in the voting process. International partners and peace monitoring organizations view this election as a critical test of whether the regional autonomy established under a peace agreement between the Manila government and Muslim separatist groups in 2014 can endure through democratic institutions.

The autonomy framework was created to end a prolonged conflict that claimed over 120,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people from their homes.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged citizens to participate in the elections through a video message, emphasizing that this vote represents a crucial milestone toward lasting peace, democratic governance, and genuine self-determination for the BARMM. He described the event as a “historic and decisive moment” for the region and the nation, encouraging voters to turn out in large numbers.