Manila: Exactly a week before the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming to complete the deployment of ballots, automated counting machines (ACMs), and other election materials by Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the deployment from the hub to the municipalities is currently underway. Ballots are being delivered to city treasurers, and other election paraphernalia are being transported to local Comelec offices, as stated by Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia in an interview at the poll body's main office on Monday. Garcia mentioned that they plan to conduct the final testing and sealing of the ACMs two days before the scheduled polls early next week.
"We aim to complete distribution to the municipalities before September 8 so that election officers and teachers are ready for the final testing and sealing scheduled for September 12 across all 5,212 precincts in the Bangsamoro," Garcia stated.
Regarding the peace and order in the region, Garcia noted that the overall security situation should not be assessed based on a single incident. He referred to the August 15 attack against BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, emphasizing that while there was only one incident across the entire Bangsamoro, proper deployment of forces is essential to ensure the election proceeds smoothly.
On a different note, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco expressed optimism for an 80 percent voter turnout for the BPE, similar to the May 2025 midterm elections. He highlighted that BARMM recorded one of the highest voter turnouts during the last elections, at about 84 to 86 percent.
To achieve this, Laudiangco explained that an extensive voter education program was launched in July, aiming to inform citizens about the significance of this election, the voting process, and its impact. He expressed hope that on September 14, citizens would actively participate, potentially exceeding the 80 percent voter turnout mark.
