PNP to deploy more cops in BARMM ahead of May 2025 elections

More police personnel are expected to be deployed to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) amid reports of suspected election-related incidents in the area, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

“If ever po kung kinakailangan po na magkakaroon po tayo ng forward deployment dyan po sa rehiyon ng Bangsamoro ay gagawin po natin yan,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said.

(If ever it is necessary that we have a forward deployment there in the Bangsamoro region, we will do so.)

“In fact, yung deployment ng ating Special Action Force is being considered to make sure po na ilang linggo po bago ang national at local election ay nandyan na po yung ating mga additional personnel para patuloy po at sigurado na magkakaroon po tayo ng election dyan,” she added.

(In fact, the deployment of our Special Action Force is being considered to make sure that a few weeks before the national and local elections, our additional personnel will be there so that we can be sure that we will have elections there.)

The PNP officially activated the Special Task Force-BARMM on Monday. 

“This activation marks another significant step in a series of peace initiatives across BARMM’s mainland and island provinces, underscoring the collective effort to prevent election-related violence and maintain stability in the region,” the PNP said.

As of March 23, the PNP said the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) remained at 11. Nine of the validated ERIs were “violent” and two were “non-violent.”

Most of the validated ERIs were reported in BARMM with five, followed by Western Visayas with two. One validated ERI each in the Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and Cordillera Administrative Region. 

In a separate statement, PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil warned against efforts to disrupt the democratic process through violence or intimidation.

"To those who seek to sow fear, intimidate voters, or manipulate the elections through violence—this is your final warning: the full force of the law will be upon you. We will not tolerate any attempt to undermine our democracy," Marbil said.

“Commanders on the ground must anticipate threats, act swiftly, and maintain strict neutrality. I expect a proactive stance against any form of election-related violence,” he added.

The PNP said it is undertaking calibrated security operations across the country that focuses on election hotspots and areas with intense political rivalries.

Police assistance desks are set up at campaign venues and additional personnel are deployed to vulnerable areas, Marbil said.

The PNP chief warned police personnel against engaging in partisan politics.

Marbil also called on candidates and their supporters to uphold the law and reject violence as he reminded them of their responsibility to lead by example. —RF, GMA Integrated News

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