The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded a peaceful and incident-free filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for its first parliamentary elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The three-day filing period from May 5 to 7 concluded without any major security incidents across the region’s 32 parliamentary districts, marking a significant milestone as BARMM prepares for its first parliamentary polls under the Bangsamoro political structure.
PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. welcomed the development, describing it as a positive sign for the region’s ongoing peace and democratic transition.
“The zero-incident report from Comelec is a testament to the collective desire of the Bangsamoro people for a peaceful transition,” Nartatez said.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia earlier confirmed that no violence or major disturbances were recorded during the filing period.
According to the PNP, the peaceful conduct of the filing was supported by intensified intelligence operations and coordinated deployments involving police units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and local stakeholders.
More than 9,000 security personnel, including members of the Special Action Force, were deployed across strategic areas in BARMM to maintain peace and prevent potential threats.
Nartatez said authorities will continue heightened security operations ahead of the September 14 parliamentary elections.
“This is just the beginning of a long journey toward a credible September 14 election,” he said.
The BARMM parliamentary elections were rescheduled following the enactment of a law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. adjusting the election timetable.
Officials elected in the polls will serve a five-year term from October 2026 to June 2031.