PPCRV urges partisan volunteers to step down ahead of historic BARMM elections

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DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) counts down to its inaugural parliamentary elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has issued a stern directive for partisan volunteers to voluntarily step down to preserve the church-backed watchdog's strict non-partisan posture.

Father David Procalla, PPCRV regional coordinator for BARMM, raised the alarm following reports of political proxies infiltrating local networks, specifically targeting Datu Odin Sinsuat and surrounding municipalities across Maguindanao.

"There is a report right here in Datu Sinsuat that there are partisans inside PPCRV making their presence felt," Procalla stated. "In the event that you are already known to be partisan, I am now asking you to please just withdraw for the meantime."

The regional coordinator directed municipal networks—including chapters overseen by Vince Siewert—to thoroughly vet their rosters. While conceding that many volunteers come forward with genuine civic intentions, Procalla stressed that absolute neutrality is non-negotiable for an organization tasked with safeguarding the democratic process in a region with a complex political landscape.

To weed out compromised elements, Procalla enlisted the direct intervention of local election officers (EOs), the Philippine National Police, and the judiciary. He holds exclusive signature authority over the official rosters but urged state actors to cross-check credentials.

“That is why I am also asking the election officers, please, if you know that the PPCRV representatives who come to you are partisan, don't accept them," he urged. "Please also help us cleanse our ranks, as we all operate under the leadership of the commission."

The stakes are exceptionally high for the region. PPCRV Executive Director Maribel Buenaobra said that national and regional operations have shifted into high gear, transforming command hubs into modern intelligence and data-monitoring stations.

Stationed in Cotabato City, the regional command center functions as a vital nerve center and is headed by Procalla alongside Trustee Anna Singson, who coordinates with Makati and AMA Computer College.

Equipped with banks of computers, the facility ingests real-time updates streaming through dedicated Messenger networks from seven strategic operational zones spanning Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA).

These local feeds synchronize directly with the National Command Center, which tracks approximately eighteen monitoring setups nationwide to ensure transparent oversight of the Bangsamoro's electoral milestone. — BM, GMA News