Mayor questions ID cards from plebiscite watch group

COTABATO CITY -- The mayor here urged the Commission on Elections to check on the distribution by a group to voters of identification cards bearing data allegedly obtained from Comelec.Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi showed copies of the questionable ID cards to reporters during an informal press briefing Thursday.She said the ID cards seemingly produced by the United Bangsamoro Movement, or UBM, were turned over by individuals who want the issue investigated immediately.The Comelec reportedly accredited the UBM as one of several watch groups for the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on January 21.Moro barangay folk told reporters the UBM is identified with sectors campaigning for an affirmative vote for BOL.The mayor said there is mounting public apprehension that the cards could be used by scheming possessors to get inside polling precincts here on January 21.Guiani-Sayadi said those who turned in the questionable ID cards were amazed on how its producer obtained their personal data and photos appearing on their Comelec registration documents. Some of the cards do not have photos of supposed owners. Those who told me about this were surprised on why will a group give ID cards that they did not even ask for? Comelec has to investigate on this, Guiani-Sayadi said.Guiani-Sayadi and her constituent-barangay captains are campaigning against the inclusion of Cotabato City into the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM.The BOL, once ratified via Monday’s plebiscite, will pave the way for the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with BARMM.The creation of BARMM is premised on two peace compacts between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front --- the 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and, subsequently, the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.The Comelec will administer the BOL ratification plebiscite in ARMM’s 118 towns, in the cities of Cotabato and Isabela and in parts of North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte provinces to determine if local residents are in favor of grouping their communities together under BARMM.The now 29-year ARMM, whose regional charter is Republic Act 9054, also known as the Organic Act for Muslim Mindanao, covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.Guiani-Sayadi said voters against the inclusion of Cotabato City into BARMM’s territory are worried the ID cards in question could be used by pro-BOL outsiders to get through the polling sites here during Monday’s plebiscite. The Comelec has to look into this immediately, said Guiani-Sayadi, chairperson of the city’s inter-agency peace and order council.