COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections has placed Cotabato City and the municipality of Maluso in Basilan under Comelec control after violence and alleged ballot irregularities disrupted the historic first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The dramatic intervention came on Monday, Sept 14, as nearly 2.4 million registered voters headed to the polls to elect the region’s first regular 80-member parliament.
In Cotabato City, deadly election-related violence and shooting incidents raised serious security concerns. In Maluso, Comelec discovered that ballots in 36 out of 68 precincts had allegedly been pre-shaded, forcing the poll body to order the immediate reprinting of replacement ballots.
Why Did Comelec Take Control of Cotabato City and Maluso?
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body acted after separate but serious incidents emerged in the two areas.
In Maluso, Basilan, authorities found that ballots in 36 precincts had already been pre-shaded before voters could properly cast their votes.
Garcia said Comelec had identified details surrounding the alleged irregularity and ordered replacement ballots to be printed immediately. The incident could also lead to further legal action and possible election-related cases as authorities investigate who may have been responsible.
In Cotabato City, violence and shooting incidents prompted the Commission on Elections to intervene directly and strengthen control over the election process. Reports from the Philippine National Police recorded several security incidents around the start of voting.
Three Dead, Several Others Wounded
The election day security situation was already under intense scrutiny after deadly violence struck hours before voting began.
Reuters reported that three people were killed and 15 others injured in election violence as voting preparations were underway in the region. Authorities responded by increasing security measures, deploying checkpoints and reinforcing areas considered vulnerable to further violence.
The incidents highlighted the enormous challenge facing authorities as BARMM holds what is widely considered one of the most important elections in the region’s history.
What Does “Comelec Control” Actually Mean?
Placing an area under Comelec control gives the election commission greater authority to intervene when the situation threatens the conduct of a free, orderly and credible election.
Such intervention can be triggered by serious political rivalry, armed threats, the presence of private armed groups or other conditions that make local authorities unable to ensure a secure election.
Comelec had already classified several areas in BARMM as election areas of concern before polling day because of political tensions and security threats. Cotabato City had been listed as an orange area, while Maluso was previously classified as a yellow area.
The decision to place both under Comelec control signals that authorities believed stronger intervention was necessary.
Maluso Ballot Scandal Raises Major Questions
The discovery of pre-shaded ballots in Maluso is particularly alarming because it directly threatens the integrity of the vote.
According to Comelec, the compromised ballots were found in more than half of the town’s 68 precincts.
The commission moved to reprint ballots to prevent the alleged irregularity from affecting legitimate voters.
But the incident immediately raised difficult questions:
- Who allegedly pre-shaded the ballots?
- How did the compromised ballots reach the precincts?
- Were voters or election personnel involved?
- Could other areas face similar problems?
- Will criminal or electoral sabotage charges follow?
Comelec has said it already has information regarding those allegedly responsible, while the investigation continues.
A Historic Election Faces Its Biggest Test
Monday’s election is the first regular parliamentary election in BARMM, making it a major milestone in the region’s transition toward greater self-governance.
The Bangsamoro region was created following a 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, ending decades of armed conflict and establishing a framework for autonomy.
Voters are electing an 80-member parliament, which will later select the region’s chief minister.
The election is therefore about far more than individual candidates.
It is seen as a crucial test of whether the Bangsamoro peace process can move from a transitional government toward a functioning democratic system.
More Than 20,000 Security Personnel Deployed
Authorities had prepared extensively for possible election-related violence.
More than 20,000 security personnel were deployed across BARMM to protect voters, polling centres and election personnel.
The security operation involved coordination among the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Comelec, BARMM government and local authorities.
But despite those preparations, violence and ballot irregularities emerged almost immediately around the start of the historic vote.
That has placed enormous pressure on Comelec and security forces to prevent further incidents.
Why This Election Matters for Peace in Mindanao
BARMM’s parliamentary elections are being closely watched because of the region’s long history of armed conflict, political violence and clan rivalries.
The 2014 peace agreement created a path for the former rebel movement to transition into democratic politics.
But major challenges remain.
The region continues to face security threats, political competition and concerns over the implementation of the wider peace process.
International observers and Philippine authorities view the parliamentary vote as a critical test of whether democratic institutions can strengthen peace and stability in the region.
Voting Continues Despite the Crisis
Despite the violence and ballot problems, election officials said voting was continuing across much of BARMM under heightened security.
Comelec’s immediate challenge is to ensure that voters in affected areas can still exercise their right to vote while authorities investigate the shooting incidents and alleged ballot tampering.
Replacement ballots in Maluso are expected to play a critical role in restoring the integrity of voting in the affected precincts.
Meanwhile, the decision to place Cotabato City and Maluso under Comelec control means both areas will remain under intensified election supervision.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher
The first BARMM parliamentary election was supposed to mark a historic democratic milestone.
Instead, the day began under the shadow of gunfire, deaths, injuries and allegations of compromised ballots.
Cotabato City is now under Comelec control because of violence. Maluso is under Comelec control because ballots were allegedly pre-shaded in 36 precincts. Three people have been reported dead in election violence, while others were wounded.
Yet voting continues.
And the outcome could shape the future of self-governance and peace in the Bangsamoro region for years to come.
The biggest question now is whether Comelec’s emergency intervention can protect the integrity of this historic vote—or whether the violence and ballot scandal will become the defining story of BARMM’s first parliamentary election.
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