(Photo courtesy of Richard Falcatan)
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Three candidates from the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) and one from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) were proclaimed winners in Basilan’s four parliamentary districts following the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.
Basilan OIC Provincial Election Supervisor Miguel Roberto Dela Peña led the proclamation ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the old Capitol Complex in Isabela City.
Proclaimed winners were Dr. Rima Hassan of the BFP in District 1, Paisal Sali of the UBJP in District 2, Abrar Hataman of the BFP in District 3, and lawyer Jimael Hataman-Salliman of the BFP in District 4.
Dela Peña said election officials, relatives of the winning candidates and other stakeholders witnessed the proclamation.
The election marked the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s transition from an appointed parliament to one whose members are elected by voters. Basilan was allocated four district seats in the 80-member BARMM Parliament.
Voting in parts of Basilan had faced disruptions. In Maluso, more than 16,000 ballots were ordered replaced after pre-shaded ballots were discovered in 36 clustered precincts, prompting voting there to resume on September 15.
Dela Peña said voter turnout in Basilan reached 78.32 percent.
Five international election observers also monitored the conduct of the parliamentary polls in the province. (PNA)