Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday that security measures are 98 percent ready for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) regional parliamentary elections set on Sept. 14. In a press briefing held in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said that of the 9,345 police personnel deployed to the region, 1,368 shall serve as members of the Special Electoral Board; 4,313 personnel will be assigned to voting centers; and the rest will man checkpoints and offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
According to Philippines News Agency, all concerned agencies have reported their preparations for the electoral process. Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that security measures are 98 percent in place, with contingencies prepared for any unexpected developments. The alert status of personnel in the BARMM has been heightened, subject to change based on situational developments.
On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. led the PNP delegation during the Comelec Final Command Conference for the 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) at the Police Regional Office in Maguindanao del Norte. Gen. Nartatez emphasized the importance of protecting the electoral process and ensuring voters' rights, with ongoing coordination with Comelec and the Armed Forces for incident validation.
The Philippine Army (PA) has also contributed to the security efforts, deploying 10,031 regular soldiers and CAFGU Active Auxiliary members. PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala reported that personnel from various battalions and special teams have been mobilized to enhance security during the polls. Army chief Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran has outlined a comprehensive security plan during the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Conference.
The coordinated efforts of the PNP and PA, along with other stakeholders, aim to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process in BARMM, addressing any incidents and maintaining control to support democratic participation.
