Members of a clan engaged in a deadly feud in Lanao del Sur province in southern Philippines stand guard, rifles slung over their shoulder in defiance of a gun ban in the Muslim autonomous region. Authorities have imposed a month-long gun ban in the region in an attempt to thwart election-related violence. (Photo by Mark Navales – Mindanao Examiner)
MARAWI CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 14, 2012) – Authorities are preparing charges against a boarding house owner in the southern Philippine city of Marawi who allegedly coerced students to register as new voters under fictitious names ahead of national and local polls next year, officials said Saturday.
Officials said some 30 students from the Mindanao State University
The students, who are natives of different provinces, held a rally in front of the office of MSU president, Macapado Muslim, to dramatize their protest against Macapaar.
It was not immediately known why Macapaar was allowed to put up his business inside the MSU compound.
The military, which has been tapped by the Commission on Elections to ensure peaceful registration of voters, confirmed the incident and said authorities were preparing charges against Macapaar.
“They revealed that they were warned by Mr. Macapaar to vacate his boarding house if they will not heed to his desire. This kind of intimidation was also experienced by other students from other boarding houses situation within the MSU Campus. Mr. Macapaar is reported to be working under an unnamed village chieftain in Marawi City
Marawi is part of the five-province Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao where there general registration of voters is going on.
Lucero said they have intercepted dozens of illegal registrants in Lanao del Sur and has been monitoring feuding political clans to prevent hostilities from breaking out during the nine-day registration of voters which started July 9. (Mindanao Examiner)
20