MARANTAO, Lanao del Sur — What was hailed as a historic milestone for the Bangsamoro peace process faced serious integrity questions here on Monday after voters in Lanao del Sur discovered that unknown individuals had cast their ballots.
Mindanao State University (MSU) History Professor Tirmizy Abdullah called the parliamentary election a “milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process” after casting his vote at Bacong Elementary School just before 9:50 a.m.
While Abdullah noted the voting process — from finding his name to feeding his ballot into the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) — was smooth, he pointed out early logistical hiccups.
He said crowd control protocols were not followed, making it difficult and chaotic to enter the school.
READ: Regular voting period for BARMM polls now open
He also shared a lighthearted moment, noting that personnel mistakenly applied the indelible ink to his thumb instead of his index finger — which he joked was preferable anyway so it wouldn’t interfere with him picking his nose.
However, Abdullah’s optimism was overshadowed by alleged serious electoral irregularities that his own family experienced.
“Although I was able to cast my vote, I cannot help but feel deeply frustrated and concerned because some of my close relatives were not able to exercise their right to vote,” Abdullah told the Inquirer.
When his relatives arrived at their precincts, they were barred from voting because someone else had signed their names on the master list.
“This situation is deeply troubling because every registered voter should be given the opportunity to personally exercise their right to vote, subject to proper verification,” Abdullah said, emphasizing that the incidents raise serious concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
Abdullah said his cousin, Sitte Rocaya A. Guro, an MSU Law student and registered voter of Precinct No. 5-A, arrived at the Daana-Ingud Bacong Elementary School Voting Center around 9:00 a.m., but was turned away after finding her name already signed on the masterlist.
Guro told Abdullah that poll workers distributed ballots without verifying voter photographs and failed to collect thumb marks, violating standard election procedures.
To prevent further disenfranchisement and ensure accountability, Abdullah urged election authorities to allow local and international observers directly inside the polling precincts.
READ: Int’l observers join watch on BARMM polls
Currently, observers are only permitted to monitor from the outside.
Abdullah argued that allowing them inside to witness the voting and verification process is vital to “ensure transparency, accountability, and confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.”/coa
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