Security tightened amid BARMM parliamentary polls

Heightened security measures are now in place for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday.

In Cotabato City, authorities implemented tighter security following incidents of violence ahead of the elections, according to a report by GMA News’ Jun Veneracion on Super Radyo dzBB.

Ilang mga raliyista, nagkikilos-protesta sa labas ng isang polling center sa Shariff Saydona Mustapha sa Maguindanao del Sur ngayong araw ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. | via @jun_veneracion, @gmanews pic.twitter.com/flcwKqhhgB

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 13, 2026

Police were deployed at voting centers.

Teachers serving on electoral boards were required to present their appointment papers before receiving election materials to ensure that only authorized personnel were given ballots and other paraphernalia.

Authorities also implemented a one-entrance, one-exit scheme at some voting centers to control the movement of voters and prevent possible confrontations between supporters of different candidates or political parties.

Voters in some areas were being allowed to enter polling centers in batches to prevent overcrowding and possible clashes.

Persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women were given expedited access to the polling centers.

As of Monday morning, police had not received reports of untoward incidents in Maguindanao del Sur.

Substitute electoral board members were also placed on standby in case teachers assigned to serve in the elections failed to report for duty.

This was a precaution following problems encountered during previous elections when some teachers withdrew from serving as electoral board members.

Ballot distribution delay

Meanwhile, the distribution of election ballots and paraphernalia was still ongoing in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte around 5 a.m.

This delayed the early voting scheduled for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable sectors.

According to GMA Regional TV’s Efren Mamac, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was conducting rechecking and validation of election materials.

Some ballots that had been distributed were also returned after authorities discovered that incorrect ballots had been given. The issue was immediately corrected.

Voting in some precincts in Barangay Awang was also delayed after several electoral board members and special electoral board members were left behind when their convoy departed amid a miscommunication.

Authorities subsequently addressed the issue.

Voting at Dalican Pilot Elementary School was also delayed because it was among the last polling places to receive election materials. Officials had prioritized the delivery of ballots and paraphernalia to more remote polling precincts.

Early voting sa ilang polling center sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, naantala dahil sa naantala ring pamamahagi ng balota. | via Efren Mamac, GMA Regional TV pic.twitter.com/qiN7Mr4nES

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 13, 2026

Marawi’s heightened security

In Marawi City, teachers serving as electoral boards prepared early Monday to bring official ballots to their assigned polling places, according to James Paolo Yap of GMA Regional TV.

Authorities tightened security at the Marawi City Pilot School, which has the largest number of registered voters in the city around 15,000.

The school experienced unrest during the 2025 national and local elections, resulting in delays in voting.

For the ongoing BARRM polls, police and security personnel increased their presence at the school, while authorities adopted the one-entrance and one-exit scheme.

Teachers also observed that fewer voters were present when voting began at 5 a.m. compared with the previous elections.

According to the Comelec in Lanao del Sur, 71 electoral board members did not report for duty for reasons that had yet to be determined.

The Comelec said PNP personnel were ready to serve as replacements.

Pagbubukas ng botohan sa Marawi City Pilot School ngayong araw ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, naging mapayapa. | via James Paolo Yap, GMA Regional TV pic.twitter.com/c7BsasP0Tc

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 13, 2026

OCD on red alert

The Office of Civil Defense in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (OCD-BAR) raised its alert status to Red Alert from Blue Alert as the parliamentary elections got underway, Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad reported.

The Red Alert status took effect Monday and will remain in place until to ensure closer monitoring, coordination, and operational readiness for possible incidents.

The OCD-BAR said it was coordinating with various government agencies to ensure a swift response to emergencies that may arise during the elections.

The heightened alert comes as authorities seek to ensure the peaceful conduct of the BARMM's first parliamentary elections amid preparations for possible security and election-related incidents across the region.

Office of Civil Defense-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-BARMM), naka-red alert na para sa parliamentary elections ngayong araw. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/LZrpyuzBAR

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 13, 2026

—AOL, GMA News