ARMM Election Stakeholders Eye Zero Election-Related Violence In May Polls

Regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2013 was generally peaceful although there were reported poll violence, officials said today.

ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman said this year’s election is seen with less or “zero” election related violence after major political groups and candidates forged an agreement over the weekend to help in the conduct of peaceful, orderly, credible and violence-free balloting.

Commissioner Ma. Amelia Rowena Guanzon, commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and head of the agency’s Gender and Development Focal Point System (GAD-FPS) executive committee, personally witnessed the signing of candidates to the accord.

She said the signing will seal the commitment of the candidates for peaceful elections.

“I hope that this peace covenant will bind each of the candidates to the value of mutual respect, non-violence and peace,” said Guanzon.

Guanzon also assured the public that the poll body is determined to have orderly and peaceful elections in the country especially in the ARMM.

“We assure you that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are working with the Comelec to ensure that we will have zero election-related violence in the 2016 elections,” she said.

Regional officials and local candidates running for various positions in ARMM showed up during the forum organized by the election body with police, military and election watchdogs, including all stakeholders, in attendance.

The candidates affixed their signatures to abide with election rules and regulations, to maintain good relations with each other, avoid any form of fraud for an honest, orderly, peaceful and credible elections.

PNP statistics showed 391 incidents of Election-Related Violence (ERVs) were recorded in the 2010 national elections, and 196 in the 2013 midterm elections.

ERVs refer to “acts or threats of coercion, intimidation or physical harm committed to affect an electoral process.”

The PNP considers ERVs as violent incidents that happened within the election period.

Comelec presided over a forum on gender and ERVs held on Friday last week. The forum was also organized by the ARMM Regional Commission in Bangsamoro Women (RCBW), was the first in the country and was aimed at discussing the connection between gender and ERV cases in the Philippines as well as “gather recommendations and best practices to combat ERVs, especially against women.”

According to Sittie Jehanne Mutin, RCBW-ARMM chair, the forum does not only provided the participants a platform for exchange of gender sensitive ideas but also updates on election-related policies and activities.

“It is a step to a violence free, gender-balanced society,” she said.

About 700 participants were present, according to lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary.

She said the forum was timely as it highlighted the risk women faces during elections, especially teachers who manage polling precincts.(PNA) JMC/NYP/EOF