BARMM remains peaceful despite election-related incident ahead of parliamentary polls —Comelec

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains generally peaceful ahead of the upcoming first parliamentary elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

This is despite one election-related incident reported in the region.

“Sa kasalukuyan po, napakatahimik pa ng lugar. Isa pa lamang po ang election-related incident na ating napupunto. At nakakatuwa naman at malapit na malapit na ang halalan sa September 14. Tuloy na tuloy po 'yan, ay napapanatiling maayos,” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

He said Comelec officials will meet with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other security officials to assess the peace and order situation in the region.

Garcia said Comelec is closely coordinating with security agencies to ensure that the elections will proceed peacefully and orderly.

Authorities have deployed additional security personnel following the ambush on the convoy of BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua in Barangay Dulangan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte last August 15.

Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco earlier said it was natural for security personnel to be increased in areas being monitored for potential threats.

"Yes, more security personnel were deployed. Naturally, additional personnel will be deployed when there is something that needs to be monitored,” Laudiangco said.

"The number will increase, but we do not want the deployment of additional personnel to cause fear among our fellow citizens. We do not want the area to appear militarized," he added.

On August 15, Macacua and his entourage escaped unharmed after armed assailants ambushed their convoy in Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Macacua was traveling from his hometown in Barangay Gambar, Mother Kabuntalan, when the incident occurred.

Laudiangco said the poll body considers the ambush an election-related incident and expressed hope that it was an isolated case.

The PNP has classified the ambush on the convoy of Macacua as a "suspected election-related incident." —KG, GMA News