Comelec eyes 80% turnout in BARMM poll

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping for a voter turnout of at least 80 percent for the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Sept. 14.

“When we visited the barangays, we saw a high interest among the people,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

With only days to go, the Philippine National Police (PNP) intensified its security operations and implemented stricter enforcement of the election gun ban.

“We will not allow violence to undermine the upcoming elections,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

Miguel Roberto dela Peña, the designated OIC provincial election supervisor in Basilan, said more than 100 police officers will be deployed as Special Electoral Board members in Lamitan City as well as Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan towns.

Dela Peña said the three areas were identified as areas of concern.  – Roel Pareño