Cagayan de oro: The Police Regional Office - Northern Mindanao dispatched 901 personnel on Tuesday to assist in securing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary election scheduled for September 14.

According to Philippines News Agency, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. emphasized the importance of maintaining strict political neutrality during the send-off ceremony. He cautioned against any actions that might be perceived as favoring candidates or political parties, underscoring the need for impartiality in fulfilling their duties.

"Your mission is clear: help ensure that the people can exercise their right to vote in a peaceful, orderly, credible, and secure environment," Babagay stated, urging the officers to maintain situational awareness and closely coordinate with the Bangsamoro Region police, the Commission on Elections, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The deployment includes 850 police personnel from Northern Mindanao and 51 personnel from National Support Units, such as the Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, and Regional Medical and Dental Unit. Of these, 380 will serve on Special Electoral Boards, while the remaining officers will provide security and operational support.

The elections on September 14 will be the first parliamentary election in the BARMM, underscoring the importance of security preparations as voters elect their representatives to the Bangsamoro Parliament. The election will determine 80 parliamentary seats, divided equally between parliamentary district representatives and party representatives.

The election, initially slated for May 2022, faced delays due to legislative and legal challenges, including a Supreme Court ruling that led to Sulu's exclusion from the BARMM. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enacted Republic Act 12317, which permanently set the election date for September 14 and declared it a special non-working holiday across the BARMM.