Poll watchdogs flag multiple voting at BARMM precinct in Maguindanao del Norte

Poll watchdogs on Monday flagged incidents of multiple voting and other election irregularities during the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, including an incident at a precinct in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte, where individuals were seen casting ballots on behalf of other voters.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said several individuals were seen casting ballots on behalf of other voters at Central Oring Elementary School in Buldon.

During a press briefing, PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said voting on behalf of another person is strictly prohibited unless authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“It is strictly forbidden to vote for another person unless the voter is a PWD (person with disability) who requires assistance and has been authorized by Comelec,” Singson said.

“You cannot vote for your sibling, aunt, uncle, or even your closest friend. You must cast your ballot yourself,” she added.

PPCRV also reported the distribution of prohibited sample ballots at the school.

Singson reminded BARMM voters that the campaign period had already ended, making the distribution of election materials strictly prohibited.

“It is also strictly prohibited to bring out or distribute election materials inside the polling precinct. The campaign period is over; it is now election day. So please, follow the rules,” she said.

LENTE flags multiple voting

Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Philippines also reported an instance of multiple voting allegedly allowed by an Electoral Board.

LENTE said the incident was monitored in Lantawan, Basilan, where its monitors also observed open discussions among voters and poll watchers about whom to vote for.

“In the Special Geographic Area, an observer reported what appears to be the same modus: a voter who had already voted was seen moving to another polling place to vote again together with an assistor,” LENTE said.

LENTE also reported instances of watchers acting as unauthorized assistors and alleged vote-buying carried out directly by watchers.

“There were also reports of watchers acting as unauthorized assistors, and reports of vote buying were also reported by monitors describing money being handed by a watcher to a voter after they had cast their vote,” LENTE said.

The watchdog also received 14 reports of irregularities involving ballot feeding, in which Electoral Board members fed ballots into vote-counting machines instead of allowing voters to do so themselves.

“More concerning, a LENTE volunteer in Lanao del Sur reported a watcher taking ballots from voters, shading the ballots himself, and sending the voters out of the polling center,” LENTE said.

Gunshots in Lanao del Sur

In another part of BARMM, PPCRV reported that gunshots were heard at Dilausan Central Elementary School in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur, at around 10:31 a.m.

Singson said people at the school were reportedly running amid the chaos at the Barangay Dimapaok precinct.

“Update: There were gunshots, and voters were running at the Barangay Dimapaok Precinct,” the report read.

Early voting 'irregularities'

At least 17 reports received by LENTE indicated that early voting hours in several areas across BARMM were not kept exclusively for priority voters.

The early voting window, which ran from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., was established to prioritize senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant voters.

LENTE added that 12 reports also showed that Electoral Boards in certain precincts, which it did not identify for security reasons, failed to designate reserved seating for priority voters.

Sought for comment, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body has yet to receive verified reports of multiple voting or the distribution of illegal sample ballots.

“We have yet to receive any verified reports about that,” Garcia said during a press conference at the Comelec Command Center in Cotabato City.

“We will now countercheck and verify the reports with our personnel in the field,” he added.

The Comelec also has yet to receive a report of the alleged gunshots in Lanao del Sur.

“Some people cannot stop themselves from firing their guns despite the gun ban, but just the same, there were no reported casualties,” Garcia said.

“All reported injuries are in Cotabato City. Aside from Cotabato, we have not received reports from other parts of the Bangsamoro,” he added.

The Comelec placed two areas in Cotabato City under its control due to incidents of violence.

A shootout was reportedly triggered by a commotion between rival political supporters outside the Datu Usman Mampen school site in Barangay Bagua 2, Cotabato City, on the eve of the BARMM parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, a person was injured after an improvised explosive device he was carrying detonated.— MCG, GMA News