Voting at Maguindanao school moved to covered court after killings

Police wait for the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) at the crime scene where two voters and supporters of a local candidate were killed at 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, in front of Bugawas Elementary School in Barangay Bugawas, Datu Odin Sinsuat town of Maguindanao del Norte. PHOTO BY FERDINANDH CABRERA

COTABATO CITY — Voting at the Bugawas Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat town of Maguindanao del Norte was moved to the nearby barangay covered court, after the killings of two persons as the precincts were about to open for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday, Oct. 30.

Lieutenant Colonel Esmael Madin, police chief of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, said the victims, who were identified only as supporters of a candidate for village chair, were about to enter Bugawas Elementary School to vote when attacked by still-unidentified assailants about 6 a.m. (not 7 a.m. as earlier reported).

The police said the suspects fled on motorbike.

Madin said there was a commotion between and among supporters of rival candidates in the area when the shooting occurred.

Five other people were reported injured.

Madin said persons of interest had been identified but police refused to disclose their identities as investigation continued.

He said the victims still had to be identified.

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