1st BARMM elections hurdle technical issues, weak signals - GMA Network

While some winners have been proclaimed a day after the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections, the historic event did not come without challenges.

In a 24 Oras report from Jandi Esteban on Tuesday, some polling precincts in Cotabato City were not able to immediately transmit results due to technical issues.

At around 10:00 a.m., the Regional Board of Canvassers convened at the 6th Infantry Division premises in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. They were waiting for nine election returns (ER) from Cotabato City because the signal was too weak.

As a result, the ERs were manually uploaded.

“Under the rules, pwede namang manual uploading,” said Commission on Election (Comelec) BARMM Regional Director Ray Sumalipao.

(Under the rules, manual uploading is allowed.)

There was also a problem in the delivery of votes from Maguindanao del Norte, so the number of votes there are still pending. As was the case in Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan. Basilan expected to transmit its votes from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Regional Board of Canvassers are expected to convene once more at 9:00 p.m.

The Comelec had extended voting in Al-Barka, Basilan after armed groups blocked the roads leading to the polling site.

Sumalipao said that if the winning candidates are amenable, they could have the proclamation at 9:00 p.m.

Despite these incidents, some winners were able to be proclaimed, including district representatives of the BARMM Parliament in Maguindanao del Sur and Special Geographic Areas.

Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua was also proclaimed as the parliamentary representative race of Maguindanao del Norte 3rd District.

The Office of the Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said that the BARMM elections were vital because it is the last step in the peace process.

“Sa ilang dekada po pinaglaban ng Bangsamoro ang kanilang self-determination na isang autonomous region na consistent sa kanilang kultura, relihiyon,” said OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

(For decades, the Bangsamoro had fought for self-determination as an autonomous region that is consistent with their own culture, religion.)

Sarmiento said that after the elections, it was time to focus on developing the economy of the BARMM. —Jean Mangaluz/RF, GMA News