Total gun ban during ARMM voters registration sought

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao officer-in-charge Mujiv Hataman has urged the Commission on Elections(Comelec) to impose a total gun ban during the general registration of voters in ARMM’s five provinces and 114 towns on July 9 to 18.

“The total gun ban declaration will prevent any armed intervention by political goons and the practice of using force to intimidate or harass registrants,” Hataman said.

He said preventing armed groups from getting near any registration site will ensure a free and peaceful general registration.

The Comelec said it will spend over P174 million for the procurement of 1,018 voters’ registration machines.

Henrietta de Villa, national chairperson of Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, said she supports the idea of imposing a gun ban in the region during the general registration. 

“The registration process is very crucial to ensure what we call CHAMP (Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful) elections in the ARMM,” De Villa told journalists in Cotabato City.