At least six people died while seven others were injured due to health conditions and separate shooting incidents in five provinces as voting in the 2025 midterm elections started Monday morning, officials said.

The National Citizens' saod Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said '' it expresses concern over incidents and disturbance that married today's polls in certain areas in the country.''

Two senior citizens died due to health conditions after casting their votes in the province of Pangasinan and Albay on Monday.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Julie Carrera of Binmaley Municipal Police Station said a male senior citizen with hypertension was declared dead on arrival after he collapsed at Gayaman Elementary School.

The Bicol Regional Police Office reported the death of a 65 year-old voter who died due to heart attack after casting his vote in Oas, Albay in Bicol around 6:05 am.

Two people were killed and three were wounded in a shootout between armed groups in Tabuan-Lasa, Basilan.

Speaking to reporters in an online news briefing at Camp Crame, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura said the incident occurred around 12:30 p.m.

Police Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, chief of Silay City Police Station said a shooting occured at Barangay Mambulac Negros Occidental around 7 am.

Darroca said two died on the spot while sevenwere rushed to a hospital in Bacolod for treatment.

Based on the initial report, the victims were standing outside the headquarters of a political group when they were fired upon by the suspects onboard a vehicle.

Police recovered shells and slugs of caliber 45 pistol during the investigation.

One of the suspects identified as Arnie Benedicto, barangay chairman and resident of Barangay Lantad, Silay City, Negros Occidental surrendered in the afternoon of the same day.

Darroca said the police are also conducting investigation against the two other alleged suspects who, according to the witnesses, are still inside the headquarters.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Col. J-Jay Javines said two victims identified as Afganie Balt Taha, a candidate for municipal councilor of Bayang, Lanao del Sur and his brother Walid Balt Taha, an incumbent barangay chairman died after a shooting in Barangay Rinabor at 7:40 am.

"The victims were walking toward the polling center when an unidentified suspect appeared and shot them. As a result, both victims sustained gunshot wounds and were brought to the nearest hospital but were declared dead on arrival," he said.

Javines added that another victim with a suspected gunshot wound was found lying on the ground within Purok 3, Barangay Guinicolalay, Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur around 11:50 pm on Sunday.

The military and police are still investigating the incident and finding out identity of the victim. Robina Asido/DMS