By Gabriela Baron
An election officer was slain Monday afternoon, Feb. 13, in Limbayong, Sultan Kudarat, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed.
Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco confirmed in a statement the killing of Haviv M. Maindan, election officer II of Sultan sa Baringis in Maguindanao.
Maindan, 55, was shot at about 2:30 p.m. along National Highway, Purok Libas in Barangay Panguiaman in Lambayong.
Also shot was a certain Rolly Dilangalen, a resident of Barangay Poblacion in Buluan, Maguindanao, but did not sustain any gunshot wound.
According to P/Maj. Jethro Dave Doligas, chief of the Esperanza Municipal Police Station, the victims were traveling from Sultan sa Baringis to Lambayong aboard a Toyota Fortuner when the assailants approached and shot the two, hitting Maindan on different parts of his body.
Doligas said the suspects fled away by running toward an unknown direction after the incident.
Laudiangco said the Comelec is in cooperation with the Philippine National Police regarding the incident.
He added that authorities are already conducting hot pursuit operations while all personnel and checkpoints were alerted for possible arrest of the suspects.
Maindan has rendered 15 years of service in the Comelec since 2007, according to Laudiangco.
“With the unknown assailants still at large, Chairman George M. Garcia, the Commissioners, and the whole Commission on Elections commit to the family of EO Maindan that we will not rest until justice is served,” Laudiangco said.
