BARMM Ballot Tampering Incident Raises Concerns Over Peace Process

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The discovery of pre-shaded ballots in Maluso, Basilan was described by a local official as a desperate move by elements seeking to frustrate the Bangsamoro people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity and self-governance, and discredit the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP). Basilan Vice Gov. Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman said the incident should not be allowed to undermine the historic first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He stressed that the democratic exercise represents a major milestone in the region’s long transition from armed conflict to political self-governance. His statement came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placed Maluso under its control following the discovery of pre-shaded ballots in 36 of the town’s 68 precincts, according to the latest election-day report. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia ordered the immediate reprinting of ballots for the affected precincts, resulting in delays in voting while election officials worked to replace the questionable ballots and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Hataman said the development should be viewed against the broader aspiration of the Bangsamoro people to achieve lasting peace and build a government that derives its legitimacy from the free and genuine expression of the people’s will. He described the incident as an apparent attempt to frustrate that aspiration and undermine confidence in the electoral process, adding that it could also be intended to discredit the BFP as a political organization participating in the first regular parliamentary elections. The vice governor, however, did not identify any individual or group as being responsible for the incident. There is likewise no official Comelec finding yet establishing who placed the markings on the ballots or determining the motive behind the incident. Any attribution therefore remains subject to investigation by election and law-enforcement authorities. The Comelec’s decision to immediately intervene and order the reprinting of the affected ballots underscored the poll body’s effort to prevent the incident from compromising the larger electoral exercise. The development is particularly significant because Maluso is among Basilan’s major voting areas, with 32,121 registered voters, according to preparations released by the provincial Comelec office before Election Day. Basilan as a whole has 248,245 registered voters, 1,571 established precincts and 534 clustered precincts across 210 barangays. The province had entered election day after government officials, security forces, election authorities and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders publicly committed to protecting a peaceful and credible electoral process. During a September 9 activity in Lamitan City, government and MILF representatives signed guidelines intended to strengthen coordination between their respective ceasefire mechanisms during the election period. Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who participated in the commitment, emphasized that a peaceful election requires not only the absence of violence but also the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. The Maluso incident therefore comes against a backdrop of sustained efforts by provincial and regional stakeholders to prevent violence and preserve confidence in the first parliamentary elections. For Hataman, the appropriate response is to ensure that the incident is thoroughly investigated while allowing legitimate voters to continue exercising their right to choose their representatives. The objective, he stressed, should be to ensure that isolated incidents do not derail the larger democratic transition or revive the atmosphere of fear and conflict that the Bangsamoro peace process has sought to overcome. The BFP is among the regional political parties participating in the parliamentary elections, with candidates contesting seats in Basilan and other BARMM areas. The party’s participation is part of the broader transformation of Bangsamoro political forces from armed struggle toward democratic and parliamentary engagement. The first regular parliamentary election will determine the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament, which will subsequently elect the region’s Chief Minister. (Contributed story)