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1. BARMM VOTES TODAY AS COMELEC ORDERS SHERIFF ABAS TO ANSWER A VOTE-BUYING ALLEGATION
About 2.4 million voters are expected to help choose the Bangsamoro’s first regular parliament today. The election will produce an 80-seat chamber that replaces the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority after years of delay. It is not an ordinary election for governor. Voters choose district representatives and political parties, while eight seats are reserved for designated sectors. The new parliament will later elect the chief minister.
Security forces are on full alert across the region. Nearly 9,500 police officers had been deployed before election day, with the military, Comelec and local authorities coordinating around polling places and election materials. Officials have also warned against vote-buying, intimidation and false information about the voting machines.
One integrity question now involves former Comelec chair Sheriff Abas, who is running for a parliamentary district seat in Cotabato City. Comelec issued a show-cause order dated September 12 after a social-media post allegedly showed a sample ballot together with three ₱1,000 bills. Abas is being required to explain. The image and the order do not by themselves prove that he bought votes, and Comelec has not yet announced a final finding.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch for verified reports on whether precincts open normally, turnout, security incidents and the transmission and canvassing of results. Comelec’s action after Abas submits his answer will matter more than online accusations. Any claim of fraud should be tied to a complaint, evidence or an official ruling, not a viral post alone.
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