VOTING in the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections has proceeded in a generally peaceful and orderly manner, with security forces reporting an overall 97.38 percent voting status across monitored locations.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. stated that voting operations began smoothly across the majority of tracked areas in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, and the Special Geographic Area.
According to police monitoring, four specific areas—Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and the Special Geographic Area—recorded a 100 percent successful start at polling sites.
Meanwhile, Maguindanao del Norte reached a 97.42 percent opening rate, with 264 out of 271 monitored sites operational.
In Basilan, 165 out of 189 tracked locations began voting, marking an 87.30 percent start rate.
The PNP maintains a strong visible presence in and around polling centers to ensure voter safety.
Police units are coordinating directly with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and partner agencies to address emerging security concerns swiftly.
Nartatez urged citizens to remain calm, abide by election laws, and uphold every voter’s right to participate without fear.
Concurrently, the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) has intensified operations in Cotabato City following recent security incidents.
Authorities have deployed additional personnel, reinforced tactical coverage near polling locations, and placed quick-response teams on standby.
Police investigators, working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), are actively conducting pursuit operations to identify and apprehend those responsible for the disturbances.
Security forces reassured the public that multi-agency coordination remains active to prevent further disruptions.
The PNP urges citizens to stay vigilant, cooperate with law enforcement, and immediately report any suspicious behavior as voting continues throughout the region.
