A MINDANAOAN solon appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seriously reexamine its decision disallowing over 200,000 voters in North Cotabato from participating in the local elections this coming May.

Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman said that the Moro brothers should be given their rights to choose their next leaders.

“Ang halalan ay karapatan ng mga mamamayan na pumili ng mga kandidatong kakatawan sa kanila at sa kanilang mga adhikain at pangangailangan. Huwag sana nating ipagkait sa mga Moro na nasa North Cotabato ang pumili ng kanilang mga lider sa lokal na pamahalaan.”

Hataman made the call following the decision of the Comelec on January 3 to bar over 200,000 voters in 63 Special Geographic Areas (SGA) in North Cotabato to vote for candidates in the local elections and only allowed them to vote for those running in national positions.

These 63 SGAs form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), but have yet to be reconstituted to their respective local governments under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“At hanggang hindi pa sila pormal na naitatalaga sa kanilang lokal na pamahalaan sa BARMM, marapat lamang na manaig muna ang status quo at payagan silang bumoto para sa lokal na halalan sa North Cotabato. Dahil magkakaroon tayo ng sitwasyon na wala silang kinatawan sa pamahalaan,” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said.

“At kapag wala kang kinatawan sa pamahalaan, sino ang magsusulong ng interes mo? Sino ang lalaban para sa kapakanan mo? Sino ang titingin sa mga pangangailangan mo? Let us not disenfranchise 200,000 of our voters. Let us allow them to vote in May,” he added.

The Comelec decision, Hataman added, does not only work to disenfranchise the voters but also deprives them of their right to suffrage.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas