Poll watchdog backs new ARMM voter registration

MANILA, Philippines—Saying it was long overdue, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)  threw its support Saturday behind a proposal that voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao be made to register anew to cleanse the region’s list of voters.

PPCRV national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said her group was ready to support the Commission on Elections in the conduct the general re-registration, which has been tentatively scheduled for July 9 to 18.

“PPCRV and our coalition partners of 12 Muslim non-government organizations are ready to assist Comelec for this,” De Villa said.

She said the re-registration would help rid the ARMM book of voters of bogus voters in time for next year’s elections.

“PPCRV has, since years back, been advocating for the junking of the existing book of voters and for a new general registration for ARMM,” De Villa said. “We fully support Senate Resolution 17 and P-Noy’s call for general registration in ARMM.”

Last Tuesday, the Senate adopted a resolution calling on the Comelec to nullify the voters list of the ARMM and conduct a new general registration in the region. A similar resolution has been filed in the House of Representatives.

The resolutions said this would put an end to fraud and irregularities in the conduct of elections in the ARMM, which has earned the reputation of being “the cheating capital of the Philippines” during elections.

The Comelec has also agreed to conduct the general re-registration after being assured by senators that funds would not be a problem and direct contracting of the voter registration machines would be allowed.