COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Bullets continue to fly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
A single gunshot shattered the morning calm and struck lawyer Omar Samama, vice mayor of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, while he was speaking at a public event in Barangay Magaslong on Monday, February 24.
Samama collapsed and was rushed to a hospital. His medical condition remains unclear as of this posting.
The vice mayor is seeking reelection along with his father, Datu Piang Mayor Victor Samama, under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident has sparked more concern among local leaders and residents, who have long feared the persistent violence simmering beneath the political landscape in the province and BARMM.
BARMM Interior Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba condemned the attack, calling it a “senseless, cowardly act” that has no place in a peaceful and just society.
In a statement, the BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
Samama’s political ally, Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, has called for tighter security measures as the elections approach and demanded justice for the vice mayor.
Former House deputy minority leader Carlos Isagani Zarate of the Bayan Muna Partylist also voiced concern. He and Samama are law school fraternity brothers.
“This act of violence is not only an assault on a dedicated public servant but also a direct attack on the values of peace, democracy, and the rule of law that we hold dear,” Zarate said.
He urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances and motives behind the attack, noting that it occurred during the election period.
“Such violence is utterly incompatible with the principles of free and democratic elections, which must be conducted in an environment of safety, fairness, and respect for the will of the people. Acts like these undermine the democratic process, instill fear among citizens, and further erode public trust in our institutions,” he said.
The BARMM police have recorded nearly 90 gun attacks – believed to be mostly election-related – in the region since January, showing persistent security challenges.
The regional police have sought the deployment of 3,000 more cops to BARMM and asked the Bangsamoro regional government to authorize thorough vehicle inspections for firearms at checkpoints.
On Thursday, February 20, the independent peace monitor Climate Crisis Action Asia (CCAA) warned that violent extremism was on the rise in the predominantly Muslim region, with conflict incidents increasing after years of decline.
The group raised concerns over security in an area long affected by extremism and political violence.
CCAA also pointed to divisions within the MILF, the dominant force in the BARMM regional government, warning that its splinter groups were fueling fresh violence and attracting disillusioned youth.
With national and local elections set for May 2025, tensions are escalating. Armed factions – some linked to political figures, others involved in clan disputes – risk being mobilized as private militias, further destabilizing the region, CCAA said.
The postponement of BARMM’s first regular parliamentary elections could also worsen existing violence, the non-profit group warned.
CCAA reported a rise in conflict incidents in the Bangsamoro region, recording 2,951 cases in 2024 alone, up from 2,475 the previous year.
A day after CCAA raised concerns that delaying the elections could further destabilize conflict-prone areas, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia announced that Malacañang had decided to move the BARMM polls from May to October. – Rappler.com