Comelec asks for security in ARMM voters re-registration

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking for deployment of stricter security measures in relation to the general registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in July.

Comelec has promulgated on June 8, Friday, Resolution 9446, which requests the concurrence of President Benigno Aquino III in the deployment of law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), in the re-registration of voters in ARMM.

The poll body has set July 9 to 18 for the conduct of general registrations in ARMM after calls were made by the Senate and President Benigno Aquino III himself to nullify the region’s current list of voters and conduct a new round of registration to ensure clean and honest elections in the region.

ARMM covers Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur. As of 2011, there are 1.8 million registered voters in ARMM, according to the Comelec website.

ARMM has gained notoriety for election violence and massive cheating. It is important to ensure clean elections in the region since tight national races, especially the senatorial elections, are usually decided in ARMM.

The poll body is requesting for security personnel for “related activities vital before and after registration, particularly during deployment and/or retrieval1 pull-out of personnel, registration equipment, paraphernalia, forms and supplies.” – Rappler.com