MANILA, Philippines — Reports of shooting incidents, alleged vote-buying and other election-related irregularities were recorded in several areas of the Bangsamoro region as voting for the first parliamentary elections got underway Monday, according to Climate Conflict Action Asia–Early Response Network (CCAA-ERN), an election monitoring group.
CCAA-ERN said a shooting in the village of Bagua 2 in Cotabato City shortly before midnight Sunday allegedly involved supporters of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party and United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
The group stressed that claims linking political supporters to violence remained allegations and had yet to be confirmed by police or other authorities.
Shooting incidents were also reported in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Shariff Aguak and Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao del Sur, as well as Masiu in Lanao del Sur, the group said.
The circumstances of the shootings and whether they were connected to the elections remained to be established.
In Basilan, a businessman who is the son-in-law of a candidate in the BARMM elections was reportedly shot in Lamitan City. CCAA-ERN said police were investigating the motive and whether the incident was related to the elections.
The monitoring group also reported alleged vote-buying in parts of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, with amounts ranging from P500 to P2,000.
In Lanao del Sur, CCAA-ERN reported an allegation that a barangay official in the village of Kapantaran, Marinaut, pre-shaded multiple ballots and instructed voters during the voting.
The group said it had received other reports of alleged threats and election-related irregularities in several municipalities across the region.
