Civil society organizations have launched a monitoring center amid a rise in election-related violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Sulu.
Conflict Climate Action Asia (CCAA) Executive Director Francisco Lara Jr. pointed to cases of “horizontal wars” between clans alongside the presence of armed groups to neutralize their competition.
“Marami talaga yung political ‘rido’ (clan disputes) and for a very simple reason lang, 400% kasi itinaas ng national tax allocation, at saka yung internal revenue allotments,” he said.
Lara said seeking political office in BARMM has become more lucrative.
“In comparison to just 10 years ago, if you look at the records of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), in terms of national tax allocation you will see how rich it is, such that in some of its qualities, seeking political office has overtaken drugs as a means of source of income for so many different shadow groups,” he said.
The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), alongside various organizations, launched the Independent Elections Monitoring Center (IEMC)-BARMM and Sulu during the April 11 press conference.
IEMC-BARMM and Sulu’s objective is to collect, verify, and document election-related violence, incidents, and irregularities such as election fraud, alongside a hub for monitoring and counting election results for the national, local, and parliamentary elections.
The convenors involved in the IEMC include:
- Institute For Autonomy and Governance (IAG)
- National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)
- Notre Dame University – Cotabato
- Notre Dame University Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC)
- Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
- Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA)
- Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT)
Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia, who was present at the press conference, stressed the importance of the elections for the BARMM and Sulu as part of the country’s commitment to the peace process.
The BARMM parliamentary elections had been moved to October.
“Pagsubok itong national and local election, pero mas malaki ‘di hamak sa kanila, sa mga kababayan natin sa Bangsamoro ang parliamentary elections, because this is the promise of the peace process, this our commitment to the peace process. At all costs, there should be an election in the Bangsamoro,” said Garcia.
Operations of IEMC-BARMM and Sulu will begin on May 2, 2025, with Notre Dame University-Cotabato as headquarters. Vergel Villarba & Michael Hermoso – Bautista
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