President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered authorities to ensure peaceful, secure and credible elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of its first regular parliamentary polls on Sept. 30.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Monday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has so far assessed the security situation in the region as generally peaceful, with 8,299 police personnel deployed to secure both the campaign period and election day.
The campaign period for the historic parliamentary elections began on July 30.
“Ang nais ng Pangulo, ang order ng Pangulo ay maging mapayapa, ligtas at magkaroon ng malayang halalan sa BARMM (The President hopes, the order of the President is to ensure peaceful, safe and free elections in BARMM),” Castro said during a briefing in Malacañang.
Castro’s statement came after Climate Conflict Action Asia reported that 235 people were killed in BARMM between January and July and warned that election-related violence could escalate as the polls draw near.
She said the government is validating the organization’s figures while the PNP continues to carry out its mandate of maintaining peace and order in the region.
Castro added that the police remain focused on dismantling private armed groups and addressing other security threats in the run-up to the elections.
The PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are coordinating through Joint Security Control Centers, while intensifying intelligence operations, strengthening community engagement and strictly enforcing political neutrality among security personnel.
BARMM will hold its first regular parliamentary elections on Sept. 30 under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054), as amended by Republic Act No. 12317, marking a major milestone in the region’s autonomous governance.