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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting the total number of registered voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to go down to 1.4 million or 1.5 million after the conduct of the 10-day voters’ registration in July.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes believes that the bloated voters' list of 1.7 million in the region will be trimmed down by more than 200,000 or 300,000 after the scheduled re-registration from July 9 to 18.

“Ine-expect natin na bababa ang registration. Talaga namang bloated ang 1.7 million, baka bumaba yan sa 1.4 million or 1.5 million,” he said.

Brillantes said the purpose of the general registration is to fully cleanse the voters’ list.

He reported that the poll body is closely coordinating with other authorities such as the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Navy to ensure that the ARMM voters' registration will be peaceful and orderly.

Brillantes said the safety of the citizen’s arm, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Comelec personnel was likewise discussed during the command conference held on Thursday.

“Mainly, security ang pinag-usapan namin. Security and checkpoints para sa gun ban, among others,” he added.

The poll body official said they are also looking at preventing the “hakot” system from the provinces outside the region.

“Maglalagay kami ng checkpoints para ma-prevent ang mga hakot, yung illegal registrants,” Brillantes said.

The ARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

by: PNA