The Commission on Elections (Comelec) says preparations for the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are now 95% complete, despite security incidents that have raised concerns ahead of the Sept. 14 polls.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the recent attack on the convoy of BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua will not derail the poll body’s preparations.
According to the Comelec, election activities—including ballot deployment, localized preparations in municipal election offices, and the setup of polling precincts—are continuing according to schedule. Ballot and election-material deployment has already been completed in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, while the commission is targeting completion of the remaining deployments before the end of August.
By the first week of September, Comelec wants election materials to be on standby in all BARMM municipalities.
Security concerns intensify
The assurance comes after Macacua’s convoy was ambushed on Aug. 15 along the General Santos–Cotabato National Highway in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
Macacua and members of his convoy escaped unharmed, although three vehicles were reportedly hit by gunfire. The attack occurred after Macacua attended a Bangsamoro Federalist Party gathering, and authorities subsequently investigated whether the incident could have been connected to the coming elections.
The Philippine National Police initially described the incident as a suspected election-related incident, while Comelec later treated it as an election-related incident and coordinated with security agencies to identify those responsible.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also ordered an investigation into the attack, while Malacañang maintained that the incident should not derail the region’s democratic transition.
But the security situation remains a concern.
On Aug. 21 and 22, separate shooting incidents in neighboring areas of BARMM resulted in deaths and injuries, according to a Philippine Star report. These incidents were separate from the Macacua convoy attack but came as the region entered the final weeks before the parliamentary elections.
Comelec pushes ahead with security preparations
Garcia is scheduled to join a final security briefing in the Bangsamoro region next week together with senior officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The briefing will focus on security arrangements before, during and after election day, with Comelec officials also expected to travel to several areas of BARMM as part of the preparations.
Security operations have already been intensified across the region.
As of Aug. 21, authorities had conducted 23,912 Comelec checkpoints in BARMM, including strategic checkpoints, joint PNP-AFP operations, border-control activities and mobile checkpoints. Authorities also reported 19 arrests connected to election-related violations, 15 gun-ban violations, the confiscation of 21 firearms and six explosives or other ordnance.
Sept. 14 election remains on schedule
The first regular BARMM parliamentary elections are scheduled for Sept. 14, 2026.
The date was reset through Republic Act No. 12317, which amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law. President Marcos has also declared Sept. 14 a special non-working day throughout BARMM to allow residents to participate in the historic vote.
The election is considered a major milestone in the Bangsamoro transition because it will establish the region’s first regular parliamentary government.
For Comelec, the message is clear: security concerns must be addressed, but preparations for the historic vote will continue.
With less than a month before election day, the bigger test now is not simply whether the Comelec can complete its logistical preparations—but whether security forces can maintain enough peace and order to allow Bangsamoro voters to exercise their right to vote freely and safely.
Leave a Reply