CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Security forces have been deployed across conflict-prone areas in Maguindanao and nearby provinces ahead of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) first parliamentary elections on Sept. 14.
In a statement on Monday, the Philippine Army said military and police units are intensifying operations in identified hot spots to ensure a peaceful vote—widely seen as a critical step in the region’s transition to full autonomy.
Troops from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division have been placed on heightened alert and are working closely with the Philippine National Police to secure communities historically vulnerable to election-related violence.
Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, commander of the 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, said Joint Task Force Central has adopted a proactive strategy focused on early threat detection and rapid response, rather than merely reacting to incidents.
READ: Marcos green-lights first BARMM polls in September
Intel efforts
Instead of concentrating forces in urban centers, Suscano said troops are being dispersed across rural towns and volatile barangays, including areas in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato province and Cotabato City—places where political rivalries have often escalated into armed clashes.
Authorities are also stepping up intelligence operations, combining community tip-offs with formal surveillance to track extremist remnants and private armed groups.
Officials warned that militant factions, including remnants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, could be exploited by local political interests.
To counter these threats, security forces are increasing checkpoint visibility and foot patrols while strengthening monitoring operations to deter violence without alarming residents.
Essential
The September polls will be a major test of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, marking the shift to a fully elected parliamentary government in the region.
The Marcos administration considers a credible and peaceful election essential to consolidating autonomy and sustaining gains under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
With high political stakes, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP, and the Commission on Elections are tightening coordination.
Despite the challenges, authorities said preparations remain on track to ensure voters can safely cast their ballots in what is seen as a defining moment for Mindanao’s peace process. /cb
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