ARMM poll period starts

With the traditionally “hot” election period set to start in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Philippine National Police (PNP) is enforcing starting tomorrow a gun ban in the region’s six provinces.

Candidates vying for the different positions up for grabs in the Aug. 11 ARMM elections can also troop to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and file their certificates of candidacy tomorrow until May 20.

The gun ban, however, would be enforced during the entire election period until Sept. 10 or a month after the ARMM polls.

Policemen and soldiers are exempt from the gun ban as long as they are on official duty.

Law enforcers assigned in the ARMM provinces, who wish to be allowed to carry their firearms even when off-duty, must apply for exemption, like anyone else.

The Comelec is currently preparing for the automation of the ARMM elections, likely to be the country’s first ever.

Around 1.7 million ARMM voters are expected to cast their votes to elect the governor, vice governor and 27 members of the Regional Legislative Assembly.

Earlier, the Comelec ordered the automation of the ARMM polls using two systems – direct recording electronic (DRE), which allows voting through touch-screens, and optical media reader (OMR), which will require voters to fill up ballots to be tabulated by special machines.

Comprising the ARMM are the provinces of Maguindanao, Shariff Kabun­suan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.