Comelec: 27 areas under 'red' category ahead of BARMM polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday there are 27 election areas of concern under the “red” category in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of its first parliamentary elections.

Comelec Chairperson Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB that areas placed under the "red category" do not necessarily mean there have been any recent incidents of violence, disturbance, or threats to peace and order.

“Yung 27, dahil lang dun sa may kasaysayan ng mga nakaraang halalan na may nangyaring kaguluhan [pero] hindi pa naman related. Yan po ang minomonitor sa kasalukuyan,” Garcia told Super dzBB.

(The 27 areas were classified solely because of their history of election-related violence in previous elections, but there are no current incidents linked to them. That is what we are monitoring right now.)

Under the red category, there are serious threats posed by communist terror groups or other threat groups to a particular location. Security forces should be deployed to focus on monitoring areas where violence and political conflicts among local candidates are possible.

The following areas are under the red category of July 15:

Basilan

• Al-Barka

Lanao del Sur

• Bayang
• Binidayan
• Butig
• Ganassi
• Kapai
• Lumbaca Unayan
• Lumbatan
• Lumbayanague
• Marantao
• Marogong
• Masiu
• Mulondo
• Pagayawan
• Piagapo
• Poona Bayabao
• Pualas
• Saguiaran
• Sultan Dumalondong
• Tagoloan
• Tamparan
• Taraka
• Tubaran

Maguindanao del Norte

• Datu Odin Sinsuat

Maguindanao del Sur

• Pandag
• Shariff Aguak
• Shariff Saydona Musthapa

Special Geographic Areas

• Tugunan

Meanwhile, 27 other areas are placed under the “orange” category, which means there is a possibility of disturbances, but there have been none in the past elections.

Garcia said Comelec and other concerned agencies will continue to monitor the region and check for reclassifications every week.

Not election-related

Garcia, meanwhile, pointed out that the fatal shooting incident in Cotabato and the grenade blast in Maguindanao del Sur are not election-related incidents.

A municipal councilor in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap, Cotabato was shot dead as the election period for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections kicked off on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Citing the initial police investigation, Garcia explained that even though the victim resided within BARMM, the incident was personal in nature and was not related to the election.

Garcia added that Cotabato City is also not part of BARMM.

Meanwhile, two soldiers and three civilians were injured after a hand grenade exploded along a road in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, on Saturday morning.

“Mukhang Philippine Army talaga ang pakay at sadya dahil pag sinabi natin na election-related, dapat may relation talaga sa halalan lalo na pag ang pakay ay botante o kaya naman kandidato,” Garcia said.

(It seems that the Philippine Army is the target and is intentional, because if you say election-related incidents, the target should be the voters or the candidates.)

Currently, the Comelec is 90% ready for the BARMM election, as the printing of 2.3 million ballots are expected to be completed on Sunday.

After the printing, the ballots will undergo a verification process for about two weeks, Garcia said. —RF, GMA News