This coming Monday August 11, 2008 will be the election day for Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or ARMM. For the past few years of elections, cheating was really observed. Teachers who volunteered to serve during the election period were threatened. The worst thing that can happen to them is being kidnapped or killed. Moreover, ballot boxes were unable to arrive on time or election in a certain voting precint was moved/cancelled. People were afraid of the bad things that can happen to them and they were not risking their lives. In addition, vote buying is also prevalent. Thus, the result in Mindanao is sometimes unreliabe.

To avoid such negative things to happen again Senator Richard Gordon, author of automation in election had thought about this propossal to ease the problem in Mindanao during election. This year’s election in ARMM will be computerized. However, an I.T. expert  in the person of Vince Dizon said that deception can be high tech also since public counting wil not happen anymore!!! There are advantages and disadvantages of using automated machines during election. To retired General Gudani of Lanao, the best thing to do is to stand with their vote and don’t engage themselves in “vote buying”.

The PNP and AFP are getting ready for next week’s election. Unwanted things can happen. Mindanao is known as a battlefield in the Philippines specifically in Cotabato, Sulu and Taw-tawi. Twelve thousand (12,000) troops will be sent to ARMM to achive clean and peaceful election.

Commission on Election or COMELEC is sure that more voters will exercise their right of suffrage. Three (3) Batallions will be deployed/scattered in the area to secure the safety of all the people while voting is going on.

May God bless the election for new leaders in Mindanao Regions.