A Maguindanao del Sur official’s relative allegedly sent men to Barurao Central Elementary School and used the names of voters who are yet to cast their ballots to vote for their candidates, according to a report by RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Spokesperson Ana Singson told DZRH on Monday that these associates took the voters list for reference and marked ballots in other voters’ names.

The incident occurred at 11 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., according to a volunteers’ report produced by the citizens’ arm of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

“Itong Barurao ay nasa Maguindanao del Sur… Ang report nito, pumasok noong 11 (a.m.), tapos bumalik, pumasok uli at 12:20… Update: ‘di na po ako makakuha ng video, nasa likod po ang mga tao… pinapapasok lahat ng kasamahan para gamitin ang names ng ‘di pa nakaboto,” Singson said.

“Ibig sabihin, pumasok raw ho ang mga tao… at kinuha ang voters list. At lahat raw ng hindi pa nagboboto, kinukuha ang pangalan para puwedeng botohin para sa kanilang kandidato,” she added.

Singson expressed dismay over the incident and urged candidates to be good role models, even if they have not yet been elected into office.

“Huwag naman po, nakakalungkot. Ito ho ay bagong pagkakataon para sa BARMM, at dito tayo makakapili ng ating liderato. Dapat ho ‘yung liderato natin, sila maging halimbawa, diba, ‘yung mga kandidato, dapat maging halimbawa ng ano ba ang tama—paano tayo uunlad, kung hanggang ngayon, hindi pa nagpapalit ang mga lumang pamamaraan?” she said.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reported that four have died and 19 others injured in connection with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.

Three died Sunday night, and another on Monday, September 14, while the recorded count of injured victims from the shooting incident at the Central Pilot Elementary School in Cotabato City rose.