Comelec looking to reduce number of Armm voters

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to reduce to 1.4 million or 1.5 million the total number of registered voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) after the conduct of the 10-day voters’ registration in July.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes believes the bloated voters list of 1.7 million in the said region will be trimmed down by more than 200,000 or 300,000 after the scheduled re-registration from July 9 to 18.

“Ine-expect natin na bababa ang registration, talaga namang bloated ang 1.7 million baka bumaba yan sa 1.4 million or 1.5 million,” he said.

Brillantes said the purpose of the general registration is to fully cleanse the voter’s list.

He also said that the poll body is closely coordinating with the authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippines Navy to ensure that the Armm registration will be peaceful and orderly.

Brillantes said the safety of the citizen’s arm, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Comelec personnel was likewise discussed during the command conference held on Thursday.

“Mainly, security ang pinag-usapan namin security and check points para sa gun ban, among others,” he said.

Aside from the security, the poll body official said they are looking to prevent the “hakot” system from the provinces outside the region.

“Maglalagay kami ng check points para maprevent ang mga hakot, yung illegal registrants,” Brillantes said.

The Comelec chief said they are putting at least 4,000 AFP and PNP men to oversee that registration process. Additional personnel will be deployed from outside of the five provinces.

The Armm is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. (FP/Sunnex)