Gunfight erupts as people line up to vote, leaving 18 casualties the day before Philippine elections.

Gunfight erupts as people line up to vote, leaving 18 casualties the day before Philippine elections.

"What started as a simple dispute over who was next in line quickly escalated into a deadly pistol shootout."

On September 14, 2026, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines was set to hold its historic first parliamentary elections. It was a day of great excitement for the entire region, marking 12 years after a peace agreement ended over 40 years of armed conflict, and finally allowing residents to elect their own regional representatives.

However, just hours before voting was scheduled to begin, an unimaginable tragedy struck the night before.

1. It began with "I was here first"... a queue-jumping dispute outside a polling station

Late on the night of Sunday, September 13, the day before the election, outside Datu Usman Mampen Elementary School in Barangay Bagua 2, Cotabato City.

This school was designated as an official polling station for the following morning. Dozens of supporters from different political parties, eager to cast their votes first thing in the morning, had gathered at the school gates since midnight to form a queue.

Around 11:40 PM, a small argument broke out in the line. "We were here first," "Respect the order."

Initially, it was a common verbal spat. But as emotions flared, harsh insults and physical altercations ensued, quickly escalating into a brawl.

2. A pistol drawn after fists flew, turning the school entrance into chaos

As the physical fight reached its peak, someone in the crowd pulled out a firearm they had concealed.

Then, with a roar that split the dark night sky, bullets from .45 caliber and 9mm pistols were fired into the crowd. The dark alley in front of the school transformed into a scene of utter pandemonium, filled with screams.

The shootout resulted in 3 deaths on the spot and 15 others wounded, totaling 18 casualties.

3. In reality, the entire city was a 'powder keg' that night

Police investigations revealed that while the tragedy appeared to be an accidental clash, the Cotabato City area was already in a state of extreme tension that night.

• 5:00 PM: Unidentified individuals opened fire in a nearby village.

• 8:00 PM: An explosive device carried by a man near another school detonated prematurely, causing severe injuries to himself (MindaNews report).

• 9:00 PM: Another unexplained bomb explosion occurred in a different area.

• 11:40 PM: A shootout resulting in 18 casualties occurred after a dispute over queue order at a polling station.

Armed groups and weapons were already present throughout the city, and the taut tension, like a drawn bowstring, met the minor spark of a "queue-jumping" dispute and ignited a massive explosion.

4. Why did they risk their lives to this extent?

This election was the first popular vote where political factions originating from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group that fiercely fought the Philippine government forces in the past, directly clashed for power.

Supporters, still armed with weapons they were accustomed to from their rebel days, were divided among different political parties. The emotional trigger was finally pulled.

5. Chaos that 20,000 military and police couldn't prevent, ultimately leading to 'Comelec Control'

To prevent bloodshed, the Philippine government deployed approximately 20,000 soldiers and police officers to patrol the area, but they could not avert the tragedy.

Even on the morning of the election, further clashes occurred at another elementary school polling station, leading to the suspension of voting. On a nearby island, a large number of pre-stamped fake ballots were discovered.

Ultimately, the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared an emergency ‘Comelec Control’ over the entire Cotabato City, placing the military and police command directly under its authority.