Comelec: South Cotabato poll bet’s slay not election-related

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has condemned the killing of a vice mayoral aspirant in South Cotabato, but it said the incident could not be considered election-related.

“At this point, this is still a law enforcement matter since he is considered an aspirant and not yet a candidate,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

Police reported that Jose Osorio, who filed a certificate of candidacy for vice mayor of Tantangan town for the 2025 midterm elections, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his home on Monday.

Osorio was a former chief of Barangay Bukas Pait in Tantangan.

Garcia said the Comelec does not have jurisdiction over the case as the election period has yet to start in January.

He said the incident could not be a basis for the Comelec to place South Cotabato under its control.

The poll body urged the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to arrest the assailants.

Garcia said the Comelec would exert all effort to prevent violence during the election period.