MANTICAO, Misamis Oriental — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) did not receive a single formal election-related complaint while its monitors conducted roving operations in various polling centers during Monday’s historic Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
Atty. Allan Panolong, IBP president, said they were prepared to provide legal assistance related to the elections but no voter had sought their assistance.
He noted the IBP monitors had spoken with voters who had finished casting their ballots as well as those waiting to vote.
“We were very much ready to assist complainants on that day, but we didn’t encounter any,” he told the Inquirer.
Panolong acknowledged that some voters may have been hesitant to report their concerns out of fear or they just want no trouble.
He described the overall conduct of the elections in the BARMM as “generally peaceful, orderly and successful.”
While there were election fraud cases such as pre-shading of ballots in Maluso, Basilan, Panolong lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for promptly addressing the matter by suspending polling in the affected precincts.
Panolong played down the violent election-related incidents, particularly in Cotabato City where at least four people were killed and about two dozen others were wounded, saying they did not disrupt the overall voting process.
He commended the military and police for maintaining peace and order around polling centers, noting they were able to contain unruly crowds from entering voting centers.
While the heavy security presence was criticized by some as security “overkill,” Panolong said the deployment was necessary to protect voters and maintain peace and order.
Panolong urged the winners of the BARMM parliamentary elections to work toward improving the welfare and living conditions of Bangsamoro communities.
“We expect them to work hard and move forward for the welfare of the Bangsamoro,” he said.
Panolong said one of the first priorities of the newly elected members of parliament should be the organization of its leadership, including the election of the chief minister and speaker.
According to him, the successful conduct of the elections marked an important moment for the Bangsamoro.
“We are happy that we were part of this historic event,” Panolong said. /gsg
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