The ambush on a provincial election officer in Sulu, which left his brother dead, is casting a grim shadow over next yearโs elections, raising concerns about the potential for violence in the Bangsamoro region.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia confirmed that Sulu provincial election supervisor Vidzfar Amil Julie believes the attack targeted him due to his refusal to comply with certain demands from politicians. The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning in Zamboanga City, claimed the life of Julieโs brother, Naser Amil Asiri.
Election-related
โJulie himself said the ambush was election-related and that he was the intended target,โ Garcia revealed in a radio interview on Sunday. โHe rejected offers from some politicians, and thatโs the lead we are investigating with the Philippine National Police (PNP).โ
The attack unfolded on Saturday at around 10:30 a.m. in Barangay Sta. Maria. Julie, 51, had just arrived from Jolo and was driving home from Zamboanga International Airport with his brother Asiri, 57, who had picked him up.
Two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on their vehicle. Although Julie escaped unharmed, Asiri suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head and later died in the hospital. Asiri, a barangay official in Paugan, Parang town, Sulu, had accompanied Julie during the ill-fated journey.
In a social media post after the attack, Julie condemned the assailants as โcowardsโ for their actions.
Speaking to the Inquirer by phone, he reiterated that the attack was connected to his work, explaining how the gunmen pursued them relentlessly until they reached their home. Despite his efforts to save Asiri by driving him to West Metro Hospital, his brother succumbed to his injuries. Asiriโs remains were transported back to Sulu on the same day.
Third Attack on Comelec Personnel
This incident marks the third attack on Comelec personnel since the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, a troubling trend that underscores the risks faced by election officials. Garcia cited two earlier cases:
- On November 23, John Nico Pandoy, assistant election officer of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, was fatally shot in the head while riding his motorcycle home in President Quirino.
- Two days later, Mark Orlando Vallecer II, acting election officer of Nunungan town in Lanao del Norte, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in Barangay Curva, Salvador town.
Such violence could lead Comelec to classify these areas as โareas of concernโ or place them under Comelec control. In these cases, the poll body assumes authority over local government units to address potential election-related threats.
Garcia vowed that these attacks would not deter Comelec from fulfilling its mandate. โIf someone is dissatisfied with what our personnel are doing and tries to push their agenda, they will resort to such acts,โ he said, hinting at the lengths some individuals may go to manipulate the electoral process.
Unwavering Support
Despite the dangers, Garcia expressed unwavering support for his provincial election supervisors, asserting, โThey will remain in their assigned areas because they know the terrain and the people. Politicians who canโt have them replaced might resort to killing them, but we will not bow to these threats.โ
As investigations into these attacks continue, the spotlight remains on the volatile dynamics of elections in the Bangsamoro region, raising urgent questions about the safety of electoral processes and the resilience of democratic institutions in the face of violence.
