World
Government, Military and Police Unite to Secure BARMM's Historic September 14 Elections
By Bangsamoro Information Office
COTABATO CITY — With just days remaining before the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election, the Bangsamoro Government and national agencies are intensifying joint security and coordination measures to protect voters and election workers and ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible vote on September 14, 2026.
The coordinated effort involves the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, local government units, and other peace and security stakeholders working together before, during, and after election day.
During the final command conference held August 26 at Camp BGen Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized that security must be the top priority. "If there is one assurance we can give the Bangsamoro people, it is that the election will continue and that they will be able to vote properly and implement a credible election," he said, adding that voters should be able to cast their ballots freely and without obstruction.
The upcoming election represents a significant milestone in the region's transition under Republic Act No. 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Its success will be measured not only by the results but also by whether voters can participate safely and whether political disputes are resolved democratically.
The election has faced repeated delays since it was originally scheduled for May 2022. Congress first postponed it to May 2025 to extend the region's transition period, then moved it to October 13, 2025, after the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling excluded Sulu from BARMM. The high court later postponed the October polls after invalidating the region's parliamentary districting laws, ordering elections to be held by March 2026. COMELEC subsequently deferred the March 30 elections due to insufficient time to implement new districting requirements. Congress finally reset the election to September 14, 2026, through Republic Act No. 12317.
Minister of Public Safety Hussein Muñoz, in a video message posted on the ministry's Facebook page, reminded voters that maintaining peace during the election is a collective responsibility. He urged residents to stay alert and report suspicious activity to police or military authorities. "The election is not only a right granted to us as citizens. It is also a responsibility," Muñoz said, calling on candidates to refrain from violence, defamation, and intimidation.
The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) issued Memorandum Circular No. 194 on August 27, instructing local government units across BARMM to fully cooperate with COMELEC on election preparations, including logistics, security, transportation, and venue arrangements. The ministry stressed that all assistance provided must remain politically neutral, stating that government resources, personnel, and facilities must not be used for partisan activities.
On the security front, the AFP and PNP are working closely with COMELEC, BARMM agencies, and local authorities to secure polling places, protect election materials and personnel, and respond to any incidents. Thousands of military personnel from various infantry divisions, along with police forces, have been deployed across the region as part of the broader election security plan.
The 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace during a command conference held August 25 at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the 6ID and Joint Task Force, called for collective efforts to ensure the election reflects the genuine will of the Bangsamoro people.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed the full deployment of police personnel and operational assets during the same August 26 command conference in Parang. The PNP-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) outlined its security plan, which includes personnel deployment, visibility patrols, checkpoint operations, monitoring of watchlist areas, threat assessments, and rapid-response capabilities.
In a related development, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panels signed the Guidelines for Mutual Understanding on August 31 at Camp Darapanan in Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. The agreement strengthens coordination between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), aiming to prevent misunderstandings and support a peaceful electoral process.
The government panel was represented by Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, while the MILF panel was represented by Mohagher Iqbal, also a Member of Parliament.