2 areas in BARMM placed under Comelec control

MANILA, Philippines — Two areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following reports of violent incidents and compromised ballots during the region’s first parliamentary elections.

“The Comelec en banc has decided to place Cotabato City under Comelec control and that we are set to designate an administrator that will supervise the elections in the city. This is due to the shooting incident last night as well as the use of an explosive device that hurt the perpetrator himself who is now in a hospital,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

He added that a heated argument among voters lining up at a precinct as early as 11 p.m. Sunday night led to fisticuffs and later shootings.

The municipality of Maluso in Basilan was also placed under Comelec control following the discovery of pre-shaded ballots in the town’s 36 precincts.

“We learned that these ballots were pre-shaded so we placed it under Comelec control. We assigned a Comelec official, a member of the special action team who is in Basilan right now as the administrator,” Garcia said.

The poll body chief said they immediately ordered the reprinting of ballots.

In a separate interview with “Storycon” on One News, Garcia said they expect most of the winners to be proclaimed before noon today.

“We are really happy. Throughout the day… despite the challenges and incidents we encountered, our fellow Filipinos were able to cast their votes,” he said.

In a video statement, President Marcos described the first BARMM parliamentary elections as a “defining moment” in the history of the region. — Janvic Mateo, Rainier Allan Ronda, Alexis Romero, Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan, Gerry Lee Gorit, Bella Cariaso, Delon Porcalla, Roel Pareño