PPCRV: Group linked to mayor's wife allegedly takes voters' list to cast unauthorized ballots in Bangsamoro elections

A poll watcher in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections alleged Monday that persons linked to a local mayor’s wife took a precinct's voters' list in Maguindanao del Sur to cast votes for her candidate using the names in the said list who had not yet voted, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said.

In a press briefing, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) spokesperson Ana Singson said the list was reportedly obtained from the Barurao Central Elementary School.

“Pumasok raw po ang mga tao ng asawa ng mayor at kinuha ang voters’ list, at lahat daw ng mga ‘di pa nagboboto kinukuha ang pangalan para pwedeng botohin para sa kanilang kandidato,” Singson said.

(People allegedly linked to the mayor’s wife went inside and took the voters’ list. They reportedly took the names of everyone who had not voted yet so they could cast ballots for their candidate.)

Singson expressed dismay over the incident, adding that the inaugural BARMM parliamentary elections offered voters a vital opportunity to choose their preferred leaders.

She urged public leaders, especially those in the region, to set a good example by obeying the law.

Fr. Dave Procalla, the PPCRV regional coordinator for BARMM, said they have yet to determine the exact number of names in the list that were allegedly used for the unauthorized votes.

“But surely we will be able to have it upon the consolidation of our reports sa kanilang mga observation. I will try to compare it also with consolidated reports ng Comelec natin,” Procalla said.

(We will certainly have the numbers once we consolidate the observation reports from our volunteers. I will also try to cross-reference them with Comelec’s consolidated reports.)

The PPRCV said it will submit a summary of all field reports from its volunteers to Comelec and file an official election report on the incident.

“We stand by… what are PPCRV volunteers have witnessed. But of course, any report kailangang i-investigate pa more. As for accountability, first of all po dapat hindi naman talaga tama ito eh. Hindi po dapat tayo kumukuha ng voters list,” Singson said.

(We stand by what our PPCRV volunteers witnessed, though any report must still be thoroughly investigated. As for accountability—first of all, this is completely wrong. No one should be taking the voters’ list.) —RF, GMA News