MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur — Security preparations in Marawi are intensifying as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) moves into the final days before its first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026.
The Philippine Army’s 4th Mechanized Infantry “Kalasag” Battalion has stepped up preparations through troop briefings, rehearsals and coordination with government agencies involved in election security, according to Lt. Col. Eugene Flores, the battalion’s commanding officer.
The preparations cover personnel readiness, operational capability, communications, mobility, equipment serviceability and contingency plans.
Flores said soldiers are being reminded to remain politically neutral while carrying out their election-security duties, with the objective of allowing qualified voters to cast their ballots safely and without intimidation.
Army units reinforced for election security
The 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion is also set to receive additional support from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion under the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division and the Division Reconnaissance Company of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division.
The additional forces are intended to strengthen the military’s ability to respond to security concerns as election day approaches.
Strategic checkpoints have also been established in parts of Marawi as part of the broader security measures.
Starting September 11, an Election Monitoring Action Center is scheduled to operate at the headquarters of the 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade. It will bring together quick-reaction teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Lanao del Sur remains a major security focus
Marawi’s heightened security comes amid broader election-security concerns across Lanao del Sur.
The Philippine Information Agency previously reported that the 1st Scout Ranger “Unbeatable” Battalion was deployed to reinforce the 103rd Infantry Brigade ahead of the polls.
At that time, the Commission on Elections had classified 21 municipalities in Lanao del Sur under the red category, five under orange and 14 under yellow—the classifications used to guide security planning for areas facing varying levels of election-related risk.
The deployment underscores why Lanao del Sur remains a major focus of the military and police as the Bangsamoro region prepares for its landmark vote.
More than 10,000 Army personnel deployed across BARMM
The security buildup extends far beyond Marawi.
The Philippine Army said it has deployed 10,031 regular soldiers and CAFGU Active Auxiliary members from the 1st, 6th and 11th Infantry Divisions to support security operations for the BARMM elections.
The deployment includes personnel from infantry, reconnaissance, civil-military operations, artillery and other specialized units.
The Army had also previously sent about 395 additional soldiers from the 10th Infantry Division to reinforce security operations in the Bangsamoro region.
Meanwhile, the PNP reported that thousands of police personnel had been assigned to election duties, including personnel for voting centers, Special Electoral Boards, checkpoints and Commission on Elections facilities.
108 BARMM areas under security watch
The security operation is taking place against the backdrop of a broad Comelec security assessment.
Authorities have identified 108 areas across BARMM as areas of concern, with Lanao del Sur carrying the highest number of red-category areas in earlier classifications.
The red category represents areas assessed to have serious security concerns and histories of election-related violence, while orange and yellow classifications reflect other levels of security risk or previous election-related incidents.
The PNP has said security preparations will remain flexible, with monitoring and adjustments continuing according to developments on the ground.
MILF joins election peace and security efforts
Another significant element of the security preparations is the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in coordination efforts.
On August 31, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity and the MILF entered into an agreement to cooperate in supporting peaceful and secure elections.
The agreement calls on both sides to support the Commission on Elections’ peace and security initiatives during the September 14 parliamentary polls—the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections since the autonomous region was created.
The initiative adds a peace-process dimension to the election-security effort, bringing government security agencies and former armed actors into a coordinated effort to protect the electoral process.
A landmark vote for the Bangsamoro region
The September 14 elections represent a major milestone in BARMM’s transition toward its elected parliamentary government.
Under the election framework, voters will choose representatives to the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament. About 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the landmark elections.
The election date was reset to September 2026 under Republic Act No. 12317, which extended the BARMM transition period and provided the legal framework for the first regular parliamentary elections.
For residents of Marawi and communities across Lanao del Sur, however, the immediate priority is security.
With only days remaining before voting begins, the growing military presence, checkpoints, joint monitoring mechanisms and coordination among the Army, police, Comelec and peace-process stakeholders are designed to ensure that voters can participate without fear or intimidation.
The coming days will therefore test not only the region’s security preparations, but also BARMM’s ability to translate its long-running peace process into a peaceful and credible democratic transition.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
Leave a Reply