Voting was briefly disrupted in Bangued, Abra on election morning after gunfire erupted near Sagap Elementary School in Barangay Sagap, sending two individuals to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m., causing panic among voters. A video from the scene showed people fleeing, with some reportedly fainting during the chaos. While the shooting caused a temporary halt in the voting process, it later resumed after a few minutes.
According to the barangay captain, the gunfire took place about 200 meters away from the school, near a riverbank, and not within the polling center itself.
Police said that moments before the shooting, they had seen several men in white shirts exiting two vehicles and taking videos in front of the school. While the group caused a disturbance, officers did not observe any weapons on them. Just one to two minutes after they left, shots were fired nearby.
Authorities have since increased their presence in the area to maintain order and ensure voter safety. The two victims, who sustained shoulder and back wounds, were brought to the hospital and have yet to give official statements. It remains unclear whether they were targeted or struck by stray bullets.
