Acting Basilan Police Director Col. Edison Dumangas has called on all stakeholders in the province to remain united in safeguarding peace and ensuring the successful conduct of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary election on Sept. 14 this year.

Dumangas made the call during the Provincial Peace Caravan and Multi-Sectoral Covenant Signing event on Wednesday at the Lamitan City Gymnasium, which gathered candidates, government agencies, security forces, and other sectors of society.

“The peace and security of the election is not the responsibility of the police alone. It is a shared responsibility of every citizen of Basilan and the entire Bangsamoro,” he said.

He emphasized that unity remains the strongest foundation for maintaining peace despite differences in political views.

He urged all candidates, government agencies, and sectors to uphold discipline, integrity, and respect for the rights of every individual throughout the election period.

Dumangas said the covenant signing symbolizes the commitment of all participating sectors to work together to protect the democratic process and ensure that voters can freely and safely exercise their right to vote.

Meanwhile, Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman also called on all poll candidates to champion Basilan’s interests within BARMM, even if they belong to different political parties.

“Let us respect the free will of the Basileños. I do not want a repeat of what happened in past elections—where voting would already be taking place the day before the actual election,” he said.

The caravan and covenant signing were preceded by a unity walk led by Roberto Dela Peña, the provincial election supervisor, which started in Barangay Maligaya and concluded at the city gymnasium. (PNA)