High voter turnout looms in historic BARMM polls
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — With final preparations in place and heightened security measures across the region, Bangsamoro stakeholders are expressing confidence that Monday’s first regular parliamentary elections will be peaceful, orderly and marked by a strong voter’s turnout.
The confidence comes as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao enters the final hours before the September 14 polls, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), security agencies, local governments and other stakeholders completing their preparations for the historic electoral exercise.
The election will bring more than 2.3 million registered Bangsamoro voters to the polls to elect the region’s first regular Parliament, a major milestone in the transition from the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority to an elected parliamentary government.
Comelec has said it is targeting a voter turnout of at least 80%, citing the high level of public interest observed during its voter-information and preparatory activities across the region.
For Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, the high level of public participation expected on Monday would demonstrate the Bangsamoro people’s determination to exercise their democratic right and help shape the region’s political future.
“Ang bawat boto ay karapatan at responsibilidad. I encourage everyone to vote wisely and peacefully, choosing leaders based on competence, integrity, and genuine commitment to public service. The future of the Bangsamoro is in the hands of its people,” Mangudadatu said.
Other local officials and community leaders are likewise expected to call on voters, candidates and their supporters to maintain calm, avoid confrontation and respect the outcome of the elections.
Member of Parliament Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo urged the Bangsamoro people to exercise their right to vote while calling on political parties to uphold peace during the elections.
“To all parties, let us make this election peaceful, democratic, and truly reflective of the will of our people. Firearms and violence should have no space in a democratic society,” Naguib said.
The call for peaceful elections is reinforced by the extensive security preparations of the government, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Comelec, BARMM government, local government units and other agencies coordinating security operations before, during and after Election Day.
The PNP has intensified its security operations in 108 areas identified by Comelec as areas of concern, while the AFP has reiterated its commitment to protecting voters and preventing election-related violence, intimidation and other threats to the electoral process.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also directed earlier security and law-enforcement agencies to ensure that the BARMM elections are peaceful, orderly and credible, with 8,299 PNP personnel deployed for election security and additional forces available depending on threat assessments and Comelec requirements.
Comelec officials, meanwhile, have expressed confidence in the readiness of the electoral machinery, with election materials already deployed and automated counting machines subjected to final testing and sealing ahead of Monday’s voting.
In Lanao del Sur alone, Comelec reported that all 1,764 automated counting machines had been distributed and were undergoing final testing and sealing, with provincial election officials declaring the province 99 percent ready for the elections.
Comelec-BARMM officials have likewise emphasized that the electoral preparations are designed to ensure that voters can cast their ballots safely and that their votes are properly counted.
“Napaka-successful ng ating ginawang final testing and sealing ng mga VCMs (vote-counting machines) at ang lahat ng makina ay dumating na sa mga presinto. Sa mga kababayan po natin sa Bangsamoro, 4 na dekada nating hinintay ito makibahagi at mag-participate po tayo sa halalan dahil ang boses niyo ay mahalaga,” Garcia stressed.
The expectation of a high voter turnout is particularly significant because Monday’s election is not simply another electoral exercise but the first regular parliamentary election in the history of the Bangsamoro.
Voters will elect the 80 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament composed of 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives.
The elections are also being watched by international observers, with 108 observers from 16 organizations and delegations expected to monitor the electoral process in BARMM and nearby areas, including Cotabato City, Marawi City, Lamitan City and Isabela City, as well as the five BARMM provinces and the Special Geographic Area. (Contributed story)
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