Poll Watchdog Reports Shooting, Vote-Buying Incidents in BARMM

Reports of shooting incidents, alleged multiple voting and vote-buying emerged Monday during the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

The poll watchdog has deployed volunteers across BARMM to monitor the conduct of the elections.

PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said a volunteer reported a shooting at Dilausan Elementary School in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur at about 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 said it was awaiting additional information about the incident.

PPCRV BARMM regional coordinator Fr. Dave Procalla also reported shooting incidents in Barangay Tamontaka I and at 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. (One person was allegedly shot by a barangay official at the Central Pilot Elementary School.)

The watchdog also received reports of voters allegedly casting ballots multiple times at Central Oring Elementary School in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte.

According to the on-the-ground report, some voters were casting ballots on behalf of individuals who were unable to personally go to their polling precincts.

Singson said such practice is prohibited, except when a voter is assisting a person with a disability and the assistance has been approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“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.)

The PPCRV report also noted that sample ballots supporting certain candidates were being distributed at the same school.

Singson said the distribution was prohibited because the campaign period had already ended.

The citizens’ arm likewise reported what it described as “rampant” vote-buying in Barangays Marang and Gadung in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, Procalla said voters in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte were reportedly handing their ballots to members of the electoral board, who then inserted the ballots into the automated vote counting machine instead of allowing voters to do so 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.)

The reported election incidents came amid security concerns in Cotabato City even before voting began.

Twin explosions were reported in the city on the eve of the election. Separately, three people were killed and 15 others injured after an alleged altercation escalated into a shooting in Barangay Bagua 2.

The incidents are being monitored as authorities oversee the first parliamentary elections in BARMM, with election watchdogs and volunteers documenting developments on the ground.

The PPCRV said it would continue gathering reports from its volunteers as voting proceeded and was awaiting further updates on the incidents reported in several areas of the region.