Residents in Sultan Kudarat cast their votes for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — A poll watchdog has reported an alleged shooting, multiple voting, vote buying, among other incidents, during the conduct of the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting has volunteers deployed in BARMM.
Citing a volunteer’s report on Monday, PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said a shooting incident transpired in Dilausan Elementary School in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur at 10:31 a.m.
“May putukan, tumatakbo ‘yung mga botante sa Barangay Dimapaok precinct,” Singson said, reading the report.
(There were shots fired. Voters at the Barangay Dimapaok precinct were running.)
The PPCRV is waiting for further updates.
Fr. Dave Procalla, PPCRV BARMM regional coordinator, also reported that there were shooting incidents in Barangay Tamontaka I and Central Pilot Elementary School in Poblacion 6 in Cotabato City.
“Sa [Central Pilot] Elementary School, merong pinatay din na isang tao, sabi nga allegedly dahil maririnig, ‘yun binaril ng isang barangay official,” Procalla said.
(One person was allegedly shot by a barangay official at the Central Pilot Elementary School.)
Meanwhile, the citizens’ arm also observed several voters supposedly casting their votes multiple times in Central Oring Elementary School in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte.
Polls open in Bangsamoro after deadly shooting
The on-the-ground report said the voters were voting on behalf of those who were unable to go to the precincts.
Singson noted that voting on other people's behalf is prohibited except if it is done to assist persons with disability and approved by the Commission on Elections.
“Hindi ho kayo pwedeng bumoto para sa kapatid, para sa tiya, sa tiyo kahit matalik na kaibigan. Kailangan kayo ho ang boboto,” she said.
(You cannot vote on behalf of your brother, aunt, uncle or even a close friend. You may only cast your own vote.)
Sample ballots supporting certain candidates were handed out at Central Oring Elementary School, the report added.
Singson said that is prohibited since the campaign season is over.
It likewise said that vote-buying is “rampant” in Barangays Marang and Gadung in Barira in Maguindanao del Norte.
Moreover, Procalla said there were also reports in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte that voters give their ballots to electoral board members, who insert the paper in the automated vote counting machine, instead of doing it themselves.
“Ang sabi daw kasi kung ang mga botante ang magpapasok, kung minsan nagkakaroon ng paper jam,” he said.
(They said that if the voters put the ballots in themselves, sometimes there is a paper jam.)
On the eve of the poll, twin explosions occurred in Cotabato City.
Three people, meanwhile, were killed while 15 were hurt after a purported altercation escalated into a shooting in Barangay Bagua 2 in Cotabato City.
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