280,077 stricken off ARMM voters’ list

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections has purged the new voters list in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of 280,077 minors and multiple registrants.

“The ERB (election registry board) found out that that there were 250,773 multiple registrants and 29,304 underage applicants that tried to have themselves listed in the 10-day general re-registration of voters in the region last July,” Ray Sumalipao, Comelec regional director for ARMM, yesterday told reporters. 

Sumalipao said they will post the list of voters on Jan. 13 to ensure transparency and ensure accessibility to voters, candidates for local elective positions and their supporters and election volunteer watch groups.

ARMM acting governor Mujiv Hataman’s chief of staff, John Magno, said the ARMM leadership welcomed the purging of the voters list.

“We are keen on making the playing field even in next year’s elections. The governor’s main concern now is to help the Comelec ensure peaceful elections in the autonomous region,” Magno said. 

A general re-listing of voters was held in the ARMM from July 9 to 18.