Military and police authorities announced on Tuesday that security operations have been heightened to mitigate potential post-poll conflict, following the conclusion of the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Concerns were raised regarding potential unrest if defeated candidates choose to dispute the official outcomes. Addressing these worries, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla affirmed that security units had previously anticipated such scenarios.
“But rest assured that we have been preparing for these incidents,” Padilla stated during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
The regional elections feature major political groups led by prominent regional figures, including the United Bangsamoro Justice Party under Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ebrahim, and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party, headed by interim BARMM Chief Minister and former MILF commander Abduraof Macacua.
Padilla emphasized that troops remain deployed throughout the region to maintain stability. “The mission of the AFP is very clear: to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible election to protect the voters and to prevent election-related violence,” she noted.
Despite localized outbreaks of violence that resulted in four fatalities and 18 injuries, both the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) evaluated the overall electoral process as largely orderly.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. echoed this assessment, crediting extensive planning, dynamic force deployment, and joint efforts among the PNP, military, and election officials for minimizing disruptions.
“While there are pockets of security challenges, the BARMM elections were peaceful and orderly in almost all parts of the region,” Nartatez stated.
Law enforcement agencies intend to maintain strict oversight until the official declaration of winners and the formal end of the election period.
“We commend the people of BARMM for exercising their right to vote despite the challenges encountered during the elections,” Nartatez said, adding that voter turnout reflects a strong dedication to democratic governance within the region.