Manila, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Three people were killed and 15 others injured in a shooting at a polling centre in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte province, in the southern Philippines, just hours before voting began for the first elected parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The incident took place shortly before midnight on Sunday after rival political factions allegedly clashed over their positions in the queue at the polling centre. Local police said the confrontation began with shoving and fistfights before escalating into gunfire in the crowded area.
The violence came as the BARMM parliamentary election got underway on Monday, a landmark vote aimed at strengthening self-governance in the Muslim-majority region after decades of insurgency and conflict.
Nearly 2.4 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots for 80 parliamentary seats contested by 13 parties, according to reports. Security has been tightened across the region, with more than 20,000 personnel deployed at polling locations and rapid-response teams placed on standby to deal with potential violence.
The election is being closely watched by international partners and peace monitors as a major test of whether the regional autonomy established under the 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and Muslim separatists can be sustained through democratic institutions.
The autonomy arrangement was intended to help end a conflict that claimed more than 120,000 lives and displaced around two million people.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged voters to participate in the election, describing it as a defining moment for both BARMM and the country.
“The election marks a milestone in the continuing journey of BARMM towards lasting peace, democratic governance and meaningful self-determination,” Marcos said in a video message.
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