Malacañang on Monday assured the public that security forces are prepared to ensure peaceful, orderly and credible parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in September, saying additional personnel may be deployed if necessary based on security assessments.
The assurance came after a report by Climate Conflict Action Asia claimed that 235 people had been killed from January to July, including 28 deaths allegedly linked to the upcoming BARMM elections.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is still validating the figures but emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s standing directive is to guarantee a safe and peaceful electoral process.
“Ang nais ng Pangulo, ang order ng Pangulo ay maging mapayapa, ligtas at magkaroon ng malayang halalan sa BARMM (The President’s directive is to ensure peaceful, safe and free elections in BARMM),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
The President earlier concurred with the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) request to deputize the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies to help secure the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro.
READ: Marcos approves AFP, PNP deployment for Sept. 14 BARMM polls
Citing the PNP, Castro said law enforcement operations remain focused on dismantling private armed groups and addressing other security threats ahead of the elections.
She said the PNP, AFP and Comelec continue to coordinate through Joint Security Control Centers while intensifying intelligence gathering, community engagement and strict enforcement of political neutrality among security personnel.
Castro said 8,299 PNP personnel have already been deployed to secure the BARMM polls, which will be held on Sept. 14, 2026.
“Habang papalapit ang halalan, maaari pang madagdagan ang deployment batay sa threat assessment at sa magiging pangangailangan ng Comelec (As the elections draw nearer, deployment may still be increased depending on threat assessments and the requirements of the Comelec),” she said.
She added that the AFP and Philippine Coast Guard are supporting the PNP, particularly in election areas of concern identified by the Comelec.
Castro also noted that, based on the Comelec’s assessment, the reported incidents of violence were largely attributed to personal conflicts and were not considered election-related.
“Anuman ang mangyayari, ang PNP, AFP at Philippine Coast Guard ay handa para matiyak ang kapayapaan sa halalang darating (Whatever happens, the PNP, AFP and Philippine Coast Guard are ready to ensure peace during the upcoming elections),” she said.
Peaceful So Far
No election-related violence has been recorded since the election period started on July 16, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Our coordination with the Comelec is okay. The PNP is on top of the situation in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“We have 42 days left and we have already implemented security measures. As of now, there are no recorded election related incidents in the area of BARMM,” he added.
The Sept. 14 polls will be the first regular parliamentary elections under the Bangsamoro Organic Law or Republic Act 11054, as amended by Republic Act 12317.
The elections will choose the first set of regularly elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, ending the region’s extended transition period under the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
Under the Bangsamoro electoral system, voters will elect 80 members of Parliament, including 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives who will serve until June 30, 2031. The parliament members will then elect their Chief Minister.
The parliamentary elections were originally scheduled in 2022 but were twice postponed to allow the Bangsamoro government to complete key transition and normalization measures under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (With a report from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)