Over 600 additional PNP personnel deployed for BARMM elections - Comelec

Authorities have deployed additional security personnel to ensure orderly and safe parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the Philippine National Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) has deployed more than 600 additional personnel to support election preparations.

“Ngayong araw, nag-deploy na rin ang iba’t ibang rehiyon ng PNP. Ang Region 12 nag-deploy ng mahigit 600 karagdagang personnel para sa security preparations,” Garcia said.

(Today, PNP offices in the region have deployed additional personnel. PRO-12 has deployed more than 600 additional personnel to support security preparations.)

He added that PRO-12 has another 200 personnel on standby to serve as special electoral boards.

The Comelec earlier said 9,000 police personnel will be on standby to serve in the Bangsamoro elections if teachers are unable to serve.

The Comelec has so far recorded one election-related incident involving BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua.

Garcia said that authorities had observed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) moving from one camp to another in Lanao del Sur, but they did not proceed, and no encounter occurred.

Municipal treasurers in BARMM on Tuesday received election materials, including ballots, automated counting machines (ACMs), and batteries.

Garcia urged the public to observe the final testing and sealing of the ACMs on September 12.

“Doon nila nakikita na walang laman, walang secret command, at the same time, ang mga makina ay tatanggap ng original na balota at bibilang nang tama,” Garcia said.

(They can see that the machines are empty and have no secret commands, while also ensuring that the machines will accept the original ballots and count them properly.)

He added that the poll body has coordinated with the Department of Energy and electric cooperatives to ensure adequate power supply on election day.

Garcia also urged voters in BARMM to participate in the elections.

“Hindi sapat na tayo ay magmatyag lamang, nakatingin sa ating kasaysayan. Kailangan tayo maging parte. Kailangan tayo bumoto,” Garcia said.

(It is not enough for us to simply watch from the sidelines and look at our history. We need to be part of it. We need to vote.)

He said election results transmission is expected to take place between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on September 14, although there could be a slight delay. — VBL, GMA News