Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday said is not inclined to place Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under its control, at least for now.This, following the ambush Saturday of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister Abdulraof Macacua.In an interview on Tuesday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia told ABS-CBN News that the situation in Datu Odin Sinsuat and BARMM in general remains generally peaceful.Next week, officials from the security cluster of the government will visit Bangsamoro Region to assess the situation in the area.“Hindi pa din kami magdadagdag ng puwersa ng AFP at PNP dahil ayan natin na magkaroon ng hinala ang mga kababayan natin na magulo sa lugar nila,” Garcial told ABS-CBN News“Gusto po natin ipahayag sa mga kababayan natin - wala po kayo dapat ikabahala. The Comelec, the AFP, the PNP, the Philippine Coast Guard and all the security sectors - we are in full control of the situation. Napaka-generally peaceful  po ng inyong lugar - alam ‘nyo po yan,” said Garcia.During the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE), Garcia  said Datu Odin Sinsuat was placed under Comelec control. But this time, the poll body wants to put it into proper perspective before making any action or placing the area under its control.“Ang Datu Odin Sinsuat ay nilagay na namin sa Comelec control noong nakaraang halalan kaya lang - ito po ay nilalagay namin sa tamang perspektibo bakit po, ang chief minister ay pauwi papuntang Cotabato City- siya po ay nanggaling sa isang area kung saan siya ay opisyal na kinilala bilang miyembro ng pangalawang pinakamalaking partido sa buong Bangsamoro - ang Bangsamoro Federal Party. Pagkatapos, siya rin po ay naging chairman ng naturang partido. So ano po ba ang gustong motibo maari nito? Ito po ba ay dahil sa kanyang pagsapi sa partidong yan, ito po ba ay dahil siya ang chief minister, ito po ba ay personal dahil ang ating chief minister ay nagkataon din ng chief of staff ng Armed Forces ng MILF and therefore, dahil po diyan ay madaming puwedeng espekulasyon sa bagay na iyan,” Garcia explained.<div>ALERTED AFP, PNP</div>The poll chief said the poll body is not ruling out the possibility that some groups just wanted to create a scenario of chaos in the Bangsamoro Region.“Baka yan kasi ay dahilan ng mga gumawa nito para mag-create ng tensyon kaya naman para lang magkaroon ng appearance ng tinatawag na kaguluhan. Wala po, generally peaceful po - in fact, sa lahat ng checkpoints natin wala pong bente ang ating naaresto at nakumpiskahan ng mga short firearms,” said Garcia.“Wala pa pong deklarasyon ang AFP, PNP…pero si Comelec, as far as we are concerned  - ito po ay election related violence, sapagkat ang chief minister po mismo ang involved dito at No. 2, siya po kasi ay tumatakbo rin sa isa sa parliamentary districts ng Bangsamoro. So hindi po maiiwasang pag-usapan na ito ay maaring may relasyon sa gagawing halalan. But again, at this point wala pa po kaming desisyon na ilagay ang Datu Odin Sinsuat sa Comelec control - unfair doon sa lugar, unfair doon sa mga kababayan natin,” accrding to Garcia.He said the BARMM parliamentary polls will be held on September 14 as scheduled.He said deployment of equipment for the BARMM polls in Special Geographic Area (SGA) are still ongoing, including Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur among others.Garcia however admitted that the incident in Datu Odin Sinsuat left a flaw to the commission’s goal of having zero election-related incidents.“Nalulungkot tayo sa pangyayaring yan sapagkat alam ‘nyo - napakatahimik po ng buong Bangsamoro simula nung filing ng certificates of candicay, pagsisimula ng ating election period, pagsisimula ng campaign period…wala po tayong election related violence - zero po tayo. Dahil po diyan, siyempre yung iba nagkaroon ng agam-agam, nagkakaroon ng takot….pero sinasabi po natin  - 1. Tuloy na tuloy ang halalan sa September 14, 2. Yung nag-iisang pangyayaring yan bagamat ang involved ay ang ating chief minister hindi po dahilan para si Comelec ay maglagay sa lugar na yan o kahit anong parte ng Bangsamoro under Comelec control,” said Garcia.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday said is not inclined to place Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under its control, at least for now.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday said is not inclined to place Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under its control, at least for now.

No plan yet to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control, Garcia says

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Regions

No plan yet to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control, Garcia says

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 17, 2026 06:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Comelec

Commission on Elections

BARMM

Datu Odin Sinsuat

elections

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.