The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday credited strengthened intelligence operations and coordinated security deployment for the peaceful and violence-free filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. welcomed the report of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirming that no untoward incidents were recorded during the filing period.
“The zero-incident report from Comelec is a testament to the collective desire of the Bangsamoro people for a peaceful transition. We welcome this development as a clear indicator that our security protocols are working, but we are not letting our guard down. This is just the beginning of a long journey toward a credible Sept. 14 election,” Nartatez said.
Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier reported that the three-day filing of COCs for the first BARMM parliamentary elections from May 5 to 7 ended peacefully, with no untoward incidents across all 32 parliamentary districts.
According to Nartatez, the outcome reflected effective early coordination among security stakeholders in the region. Security forces also maintained a visible presence in strategic areas to ensure order and deter possible threats during the filing period.
“We attribute this success to the synergy between our local police units, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and the community leaders. The early deployment of over 9,000 personnel – including elite Special Action Force units – provided a strong deterrent against those who might seek to disrupt the process. Our ‘intelligence-driven’ approach allowed us to dismantle potential threats long before candidates even stepped into the Comelec offices,” he said.
To sustain the momentum leading to the parliamentary polls, Nartatez directed field commanders and personnel to remain vigilant and non-partisan, in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to maintain peace and order in the region.
“To our unit commanders and front-line personnel in BARMM: you have set a high standard for the phases to come. I direct you to remain vigilant and strictly non-partisan. Our mission is to ensure that the ‘rule of the ballot’ remains supreme over the ‘rule of the gun,’” Nartatez said.
The BARMM parliamentary elections are scheduled on Sept. 14 following the enactment of a law signed by Marcos adjusting the poll timetable.
The first set of elected officials will serve a five-year term from October 2026 to June 2031, after which succeeding elections will be synchronized with national polls every three years. (PNA)