MANILA — Personnel of a relative of a government official allegedly used the names of voters who had yet to cast their ballots in the parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a poll watchdog said.
Citing a report from their volunteer, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said the incident happened at Barurao Central Elementary School in Maguindanao del Sur.
PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said the teachers serving in the voting precincts may be under duress.
Meanwhile, a grenade was believed to have exploded outside Nabundas Elementary School in the special geographic area of BARMM at 11:25 a.m. The watchdog said supporters of contesting parties may have perpetrated the incident.
PPCRV has also reported alleged shooting incidents, multiple voting, vote buying, among other incidents.
Citing a volunteer’s report on Monday, Singson said a shooting incident transpired at 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.
The PPCRV is waiting for further updates.
Fr. Dave Procalla, PPCRV BARMM Regional Coordinator, also reported shooting incidents in Barangay Tamontaka I and Central Pilot Elementary School in Poblacion 6, 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.
Meanwhile, the citizens’ arm also observed several voters supposedly casting their votes multiple times at Central Oring Elementary School in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte.
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 for other people is prohibited except if it is done to assist persons with disabilities 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.
Sample ballots supporting certain candidates were handed out at Central Oring Elementary School, the report added.
Alleged shooting, multiple voting, vote-buying logged in Bangsamoro — poll watchdog
“Bawal na bawal din po maglabas ng election paraphernalia mismo sa loob ng presinto. Tapos na ho ang kampanya, botohan na po ito,” Singson said.
It likewise said that vote buying is “rampant” in Barangays Marang and Gadung in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte.
Moreover, Procalla said there were also reports in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte that voters were giving their ballots to electoral board members, who would then insert the paper into the automated vote counting machine instead of the voters doing it themselves.
“Ang sabi daw kasi kung ang mga botante ang magpapasok, kung minsan nagkakaroon ng paper jam,” he said.
On the eve of the polls, 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.
2 BARMM areas under Comelec control
3 dead, 15 wounded in Cotabato City shooting hours before BARMM polls
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