3 killed, one hurt in gun attack near polling precinct in Maguindanao town

MANILA, Philippines — Three members of a barangay peacekeeping action team (BPAT) in the town of Buluan in Maguindanao were killed while another was injured in a shooting incident near a polling precinct Monday morning, election day.

A report from the 16th Military Intelligence Company (16th MICO) said the gun attack happened at the back of the Pilot Elementary School in Buluan, just after the BPAT members rendered assistance to the polling precinct in the school.

The four BPAT members were on official duty, the report said.

According to the report, the still unidentified gunmen were onboard two white vans that stopped just in front of the BPAT members.

All of the victims were allegedly supporters of reelectionist and incumbent Buluan Mayor Babydats Mangudadatu, the report said.

“Accordingly, two (2) white van vehicles relentlessly fired their guns (believed to be rifles) to the BPATs who were in duty status at Pilot Elem School.  Afterwhich, the said perpetrators withdrawn to unspecified location,” the 16th MICO said in its report.

“All victims were BPATs identified as supporters of Mayoralty aspirant Babydats Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao,” it added.

The incident in Buluan just came after grenade explosions rocked an area near the town hall of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.

READ: 8 hurt in Maguindanao grenade explosions

/MUF