MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) formally placed Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte under its control effective Friday, April 4, 2025.

Comelec chairman George Garcia made the announcement in a press conference at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila after a memorandum of agreement signing with the PNP, AFP, Department of Education (DepEd) and other election stakeholders.

Garcia said members of the Commission en banc unanimously agreed to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control after the recent ambush of its election officer Atty. Bai Maceda Lidasan-Abo and her husband Jojo in Barangay Makir.

”The declaration is effective today and therefore the resolution is effective today but no substantial changes will happen in Datu Odin Sinsuat,” Garcia said.

He however clarified that residents of the town have nothing to worry about and no additional soldiers or police personnel will be deployed in the area.

“Ang sinasabi lang namin yung readiness because declared siya under Comelec control - anytime, puwede naming gamitin yung reserve authority na iyan. So ngayon, wala pong mangyayari dun. Huwag pong mag-alala yung ating mga kababayan, wala po…normal at regular po. Wala pong biglang darating na lang diyan na tropang pagkadami-dami ng sundalo at PNP, wala pong ganon,” Garcia said.

He said the commission will continue to assess the latest situation in the area in the coming days.

The Comelec, according to Garcia, will appoint an administrator of Datu Odin Sinsuat who will direct report to the Commission en banc.

“Ang atin pong pakiusap sana, wala nang susunod dito sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, sana ito na lang ang una’t kahuli-hulihan na madedeklara under Comelec control,” Garcia added.