BARMM election / Comelec 

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received over 3000 calls reporting delays in voting time in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to manual processes causing the replacement of 298 Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) in various precincts in the region. 

Based on the Comelec’s 12:02:25 pm bulletin, only 947 out of 3,465 clustered precincts opened. Of the 3000 received calls, 90% were resolved. The remaining 10% was brought up to level 2 of the National Technical Support Center – the arm of the commission that investigates and acts on technical concerns encountered in polling precincts, specifically on vote transmission, ACM’s  and other technical difficulties that on-ground personnel cannot resolve. 

According to Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco, the delay was due to the manual reporting mechanism. 

The areas where there confirmed delays were in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Saudi-Ampatuan in Maguindanao province. 

“Datu Odin Sinsuat – ‘yan po confirmed ‘yan pero nagisismula na po sila ngayon. Datu Saudi-Ampatuan diyan po na-delay talaga dahil po inuna nung ating mga electoral boards ‘yung senior citizen ang problema dumain ng dumami hanggang sa kailangan namin siyang tawagan papasukin niyo na dahil masyado na inconvenience pero kita niyo naman po tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagboto pero kita niyo naman po hindi pa rin gumagalaw,” Laudiangco said. 

“Dalawa po kasi ‘yan maaring busy po masyado ‘yung ating principal at sobrang busy rin po ng ating election officer na hindi po siya nakapag-report sa atin,” he said. 

Cops take control of Maguindanao polls 

Early this morning, over 3000 members of the Philippine Marine Corps headed to 34 barangays in the BARMM to act as Special Electoral Board (SEB). 

These trained police officers are set to serve in areas where teachers and other poll workers could not reach during the elections.

Voting hours are only until 7:00 pm but the possibility of extending voting time in Datu Odin Sinsuat will depend on the assessment of the situation in the area. 

“Ang desisyon po mamaya kung magkakaroon ng paglalawig o extention ng ating voting time ay i-assess ng ating mga election officers. Titignan po namin ano ba ang voter turnout bago mag ala syete ng gabi,” he said.

Kung malaki na po ang porsyento at ang voter turnout at wala nang nakapila pa within 30-meter radius eh baka po hindi na kinakailangang palawigin pa ang voting hours pero kung nakikita natin na marami pa ang hindi nakakaboto eh baka po i-exercise po ng Comelec ang kapangyarihan nito na palawigin pa,” he said. 

RELATED STORIES:

Comelec: Ballot shade rigging ‘unlikely’; present evidence, will sue