‘Minors brought to Lanao Sur to register as voters’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Around 60 minors, who are residents of this city, were allegedly brought to a town in Lanao del Sur on Friday to register as voters.

Mostly high school students aged 14 to 16, they were transported by seven vans to Butig town, city police spokesman Maj. Evan Viñas, quoting the teenagers, said.

A group of students from Iponan National High School said they were told they would go for a joyride in Iligan City.

The teenagers told police they were brought to a building and asked to write a fake name on what appeared to be a voter registration form.

They also had their thumb prints and photos taken and given P300 each before they were brought home at around 10 p.m. 

The students said they were assisted by people carrying high-powered firearms.

 “We are still investigating who brought them to Butig. We want to know if they are members of an armed anti-government group,” he said.

Butig is a former stronghold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Maute militants.

Viñas said the parents of the teenagers sought police assistance when the children failed to come home at around 7 p.m.

 “This is alarming because these students could be recruited by an armed group... We are investigating this incident,” he said.