LAMITAN CITY — Four people were killed and at least 14 others were wounded in two pre-election violence incidents in Cotabato City hours before the opening of the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday.
In Barangay Bagua 2, suspected political supporters of an unnamed candidate opened fire early Monday on a group that included Barangay Chairman Fahad Singh and local officials.
Three people died, including two of Singh’s companions.
City Councilor Marouf Ayunan Pasawiran was among the injured.
The predawn attack followed a grenade explosion Sunday night at Amirol Elementary School in Barangay Kalanganan Mother that killed one man.
Cotabato City Police and local authorities said four were killed and 14 to 15 people were injured in the two attacks.
Residents and officials attributed the violence to intense political rivalry.