Comelec: 98.10% of clustered precincts in BARMM open for parliamentary elections

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Almost all, or 98.10%, of the clustered precincts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had opened for the region’s first parliamentary elections on Monday.

As of 7:49 a.m., 5,113 of the 5,212 clustered precincts across the six areas in BARMM had opened, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The six areas are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and the Special Areas of Concern.

All clustered precincts in the region had opened except those in Basilan, where 435 of 534 clustered precincts had opened as of 7:49 a.m.

The number of clustered precincts in each area is as follows:

• Lanao del Sur: 1,764
• Maguindanao del Norte: 1,106
• Maguindanao del Sur: 980
• Tawi-Tawi: 561
• Special Areas of Concern: 267

Early Monday, the Comelec placed Maluso, Basilan, under its control following the discovery of pre-shaded ballots.

The incident compromised 36 of the 86 precincts in the municipality, according to the poll body.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said authorities already have information on the suspected culprit and that he had ordered the reprinting of ballots for the affected precincts.

The elections are expected to produce 80 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament: 40 regional parliamentary party representatives, 32 parliamentary district representatives and eight sectoral representatives.— MCG, GMA News