MORE than 300 newly registered voters from Barangay Linuk in Pualas, Lanao del Sur, appeared before the Ganassi Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) on January 8 for a hearing on alleged voter irregularities.
The group represents the final batch of 912 individuals summoned by the court after a petition raised concerns over their voter registration.
Barangay Linuk had the highest number of summoned individuals out of the 11 barangays in Pualas, according to lawyer Mohammad Jihad Sarangani, representing the petitioners.
“Yung document yong evidence namin. Napansin namin yung birth certificate magkakapareho nang birth registry number, magkakapareho ng code at may pattern,” said Sarangani.
The petitioners claim that many of those summoned are not residents of Barangay Linuk. Former Barangay Councilor Abdul Mohaimen expressed confidence that the court will side with their petition.
“Hindi sila taga Barangay Linuk kasi pati barangay chairman nila, hindi nila kilala,” said Mohaimen.
The petitioners argue that allowing non-residents to vote in their area would undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
However, some respondents questioned the validity of the petition. Barangay Treasurer Abdulrauf Balt, who was among those summoned, criticized the petitioners’ basis for including him.
“Anong basehan n’yo para isali nyo kami sa petisyon for exclusion,” Balt asked.
Rashlanie Jr. Dipatuan, a 19-year-old first-time voter, expressed confidence that he would not be excluded from the voter list.
“Confident po ako kasi taga rito talaga ako,” said Dipatuan.
Defense lawyer Kahlil Gibran Maranda said that their clients presented valid identification documents during the hearing.
“Nianhi sila diri. Nag presentar. Naa sila’y mga identification cards. Naa sila’y mga birth certificates. Naa sila’y barangay certification. Base pud sa mga pangutana ni judge, nakatubag man pud sila diritso,” Maranda said.
Maranda added that they would leave the final decision to the court.
