Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called on all stakeholders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure that the region’s first parliamentary elections are conducted peacefully, fairly and credibly, amid heightened security concerns and reports of violence.
With Bangsamoro voters set to go to the polls on September 14, Pangilinan urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), candidates, local officials, former combatants, community and religious leaders, campaign supporters and residents to exercise restraint and respect the will of the electorate.
The senator described the elections as a historic moment for the Bangsamoro, following decades of conflict and a long struggle for self-determination and peace.
His appeal comes as authorities have intensified security preparations across the region.
The PNP and AFP have deployed thousands of personnel for the elections, with Comelec identifying 108 election areas of concern. These include areas placed under green, yellow, orange and red classifications based on their security conditions.
Pangilinan stressed that voters should be able to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or fear.
He emphasized that the voice of the Bangsamoro people should be expressed through the ballot box—not through violence or the use of firearms.
“A ballot, not a bullet”
Pangilinan also called for security measures that are firm but politically neutral, warning against an excessive security presence that could make voters afraid to participate.
His position echoes broader calls from government and election stakeholders for a peaceful and credible vote.
The AFP, for its part, recently reaffirmed its commitment to protecting voters and preventing election-related violence. AFP Chief of Staff General Antonio G. Nafarrete said troops would work to safeguard voters from violence, intimidation, threats and vote-buying while respecting Comelec rules and regulations.
The Philippine government has likewise ordered security agencies to ensure that the elections are safe, orderly and credible. The Palace said 8,299 PNP personnel were being deployed in BARMM, with additional forces available depending on threat assessments and Comelec requirements.
Why the September 14 vote matters
The September 14 elections will mark the first regular parliamentary elections in BARMM and represent a major step in the region’s transition from the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority to an elected regional government.
Voters will elect members of an 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament composed of party, district and sectoral representatives. The parliament will subsequently choose the region’s chief minister from among its members.
The elections are widely viewed as an important milestone in the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also emphasized the need to protect the gains of the peace process and assured that the government would work to make the first parliamentary elections safe, peaceful and credible.
Violence and tensions remain a concern
Despite extensive preparations, security concerns remain one of the biggest challenges facing the historic vote.
Authorities have dealt with incidents that have raised questions about election security, including an earlier ambush involving the convoy of BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, which the PNP initially classified as a suspected election-related incident.
On Sunday, September 13, reports also emerged of an attack on the home of a BARMM parliamentary candidate in Basilan that left two people wounded, underscoring the security concerns surrounding the final hours before voting.
Manila Times likewise reported that vote-buying and violence remain among the major risks confronting the elections as the region enters the final stretch before Monday’s historic vote.
A test for peace and democracy
For Pangilinan, the significance of the election goes beyond choosing members of parliament.
He said the process should strengthen representation for women, Indigenous peoples and other sectors of Bangsamoro society while allowing residents to freely determine the region’s political future.
The senator urged all sides to protect the credibility of the elections for future generations and to reject violence, intimidation and political confrontation.
The message comes at a defining moment for BARMM: after decades of armed conflict and political struggle, the region is preparing to exercise a form of democratic self-government through its first parliamentary election.
Pangilinan’s appeal is therefore simple but consequential—let voters decide freely, let the process remain credible, and ensure that the future of the Bangsamoro is determined by the ballot rather than by force.
As the region heads into Monday’s historic vote, the question now is whether the hard-won gains of the peace process can translate into an election that the Bangsamoro people can trust.
Leave a Reply