Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed firm confidence on Wednesday regarding preparations for the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections scheduled for September 14, 2026. He noted that security and logistical measures are already 98 percent complete.
Speaking following a security command conference at Camp BGen Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, Remulla stated that authority operations are in their final stages of fine-tuning to guarantee a peaceful, orderly and secure voting process.
“Konting-konti na lang, fine-tuning na lang. We’ll make sure that nothing happens again, but 98 percent [ready]. All the polling precincts are there, all the contingencies are there,” Remulla said.
Remulla was joined at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-BARMM headquarters by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. and key regional security officials. To maintain strict peace and order across the region, Remulla confirmed that at least 5,000 police officers alongside additional support personnel will be deployed on election day.
The historic parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for earlier in the year, were reset to September 14 following a decision by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in January 2026 to allow sufficient time for technical and administrative preparations. Remulla stressed that the regional exercise presents an important opportunity to prove to the international community that a Muslim-led autonomous nation can thrive harmoniously within a democratic republic.
In his message to the Bangsamoro electorate, the DILG chief urged voters to exercise their rights thoughtfully, remarking, “Choose your leader wisely, your future depends on them.”
Closing his address to security forces, Remulla issued a firm warning to deployed personnel, emphasizing that police officers will be held directly accountable for maintaining order and preventing violence throughout the region.
“I will hold each and every police officer here accountable; that if any violence happens in this coming elections, you will be accountable to me and to the Chief PNP. Peace must prevail.”