MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla challenged the government’s description of the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections as “generally peaceful,” pointing out that violence surrounding the polls resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
The lawmaker emphasized that members of the Muslim community do not share the state’s positive assessment of the voting process.
“Gusto ko pong ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan na bagama’t sinasabi po ng ating pamahalaan na ito ay peaaceful, hindi po peaceful ang tingin namin dito, sa aming mga Muslim,” Padilla said.
“Parang discriminatory pa nga po ito sapagkat may mga namatay, may mga nasugatan,” the senator added.
Padilla insisted that any electoral exercise marked by fatalities and active violence should not be branded as peaceful.
“’Wag naman nating sabihing peaceful ang isang bagay na mga may namatay, at may mga naganap na karahasan,” he said.
“’Wag naman ho sana tayong maging plastik. Sobra namang kaplastikan ‘yon. Kapag ba Muslim ang namatay, e sasabihin natin peaceful?” Padilla added.
Rather than dismissing the casualties, Padilla urged state authorities to acknowledge the violent occurrences outright.
“Ang pamahalaan, puwede naman nilang sabihin na may konting karahasan. ’Wag naman nilang sasabihin na peaceful,” he said.
Reports indicated that election-related violence on September 14 claimed five lives and injured 18 others.
Despite these incidents, Malacañang cited initial evaluations from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) concluding that the polls were largely orderly and peaceful.
Padilla also called on officials to address reported electoral fraud and irregularities during the election.
“Para namang ang buhay ng mga Muslim e, wala namang importansya. Hindi naman po tama ‘yon. ‘Yan ho ang aking panawagan sa pamahalaan. ‘Wag naman kayong maging plastik,” he appealed.
“Dapat sabihin din ninyo na nagkulang din kayo. Maraming dayaan ang nangyari, maraming mga balota na namarkahan na, maraming hindi nakaboto, maraming natakot. At ang karahasan ay talaga hong laganap,” Padilla emphasized.