‘Probe BARMM political threat’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Voters in four towns of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police to look into the political harassment of a group that favors a candidate in the BARMM election scheduled on Sept. 14.

The voters, all residents of the 2nd District of the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area in Cotabato, alleged that their community leaders were separately summoned by a candidate whose name was not immediately revealed.

The candidate reportedly warned them of “serious repercussions” if the leaders and their community members – all from Ligawasan, Old Kaabacan, Kapalawan and Maledigao towns – would support any of the four other aspirants for the district seat in the BARMM parliament.

A 70-year-old resident told reporters over the weekend that the community leaders were summoned by that political camp and warned of the negative repercussions of supporting candidates of rival groups.

Two other residents said that missionaries of Islamic schools in the province were also called by the candidate. The missionaries are identified with another candidate in the district.

“We are hoping for the deployment of more soldiers and policemen in our district to prevent that group from possibly cheating during the actual polling day,” a 59-year-old tribal chief said.

The residents asked Comelec-BARMM director Ray Sumalipao to look into their complaint.

They also asked BARMM police chief Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia and Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, to investigate and provide more security personnel.

Election materials deployed

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body has completed the deployment of all election materials, adding that deliveries to all BARMM towns and cities are expected to be finished by Sept. 8.

“We deployed 7,000 machines because we wanted to have excess units available – 10 spare machines for every municipality and 30 for the cities – to ensure that replacement units are readily available if any machine encounters a problem,” Garcia said.

Last week, a senior Australian embassy team visited Cotabato City to assess the election preparations.

Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown said Australia strongly supports efforts to ensure that the BARMM election will be peaceful, inclusive and credible.

“These elections are an important opportunity for the Bangsamoro people to shape their region’s future through democratic participation,” Innes-Brown said.