THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur under its control due to the occurrence of violent incidents in the municipality ahead of the 2025 local and national elections.
Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the Comelec en banc approved the resolution seeking to place the municipality under its control due to threats against the peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.
On Sunday, April 13, Muhammad Utti Omar, also known as “Datu Baba,” a candidate running for a board member seat in the First District of Maguindanao del Sur, along with his driver, was shot by unidentified gunmen in Datu Anggal Midtimbang.
Omar survived the shooting while his driver sustained serious injuries.
Buluan is the second area in the country to be placed under Comelec control ahead of the May polls, next to Datu Odin Sinsuat. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)