BTA member Macaraya asks Duterte to stop "Vote-buying"

By ASA T. MADALE
May 11, 2019

MARAWI CITY: A member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) appealed recently to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to stop "vote-buying" to prevent bloodshed among Maranao clans in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City before and after May 13 Mid-term elections.

In his letter to the President and a copy furnished to Ranao Star Philippines, BTA member Jimael D. Macaraya said, "Mr. President, your determined commitment of achieving lasting peace in Mindanao is regarded highly by the people in Mindanao... Certainly, the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao is an effective deterrent against terrorism and armed violence in the province of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City."

Macaraya said, however, that another serious threat to peace and stability in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City is looming in the horizon due to the ongoing massive vote-buying prior to May 13 elections

He further stated that "it is understood that your warning against vote-buying fell on deaf ears and the Maranaws may have underestimated the seriousness of your honor's pronouncement."

Consequently, he added, vote-buying as a social and political dilemma could ignite mass killings considering that majority of the people are involved. 

"Vote-buying remains to be the number one source of business of the politicians that violate honest, orderly, fraud-free, credible election, thus, undermine the process of development which in effect creates economic marginalized of the people Lanao del Sur and Marawi City," he emphasized.

Macaraya also stated: "Mr. President Duterte, we cannot afford to witness another armed conflict, the existence of long socio-political behaviors diseases and social misery in our province and city."

"Hence, the vote-buying must be stopped immediately to prevent unnecessary bloodshed, and to attain such a resolve, the existence of Martial Law may be supplemented," he said. (ATM/RSP),