PNP: 12 arrested for violating BARMM election gun ban

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said 12 individuals have been arrested for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban ahead of the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

"As of now, there are no recorded election-related incidents in the BARMM," PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said during a press briefing.

"With our security operations, we were able to arrest 12 individuals for violating the gun ban," he added.

Nartatez said the PNP began implementing heightened security measures with about 42 days remaining before the BARMM parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for September 14, 2026.

The PNP chief said coordination among the police, the Comelec, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other deputized agencies remains smooth as preparations for the polls continue.

Nartatez said 86 parliamentary seats will be contested in the elections, with around 400 individuals having filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs).

Asked about election hotspots, Nartatez said the Comelec has yet to finalize the classification of areas of concern, which will be based on established guidelines and the areas' election histories.

According to the PNP, a total of 9,463 security personnel will be deployed across the BARMM to help ensure peaceful and orderly elections.— MCG, GMA News