Marcos Assures Full Readiness for Historic BARMM Polls

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government is fully prepared to conduct the historic first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as the official campaign period begins Thursday. Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo said the Marcos’ assurance comes after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced the completion of the printing of approximately 2.3 million official ballots for the September 14 BARMM parliamentary elections, allowing election preparations to move into the next phase of ballot verification, deployment and logistics. Lagdameo quoted Comelec reports that said the successful completion of ballot printing reflects the poll body’s adherence to its timetable despite the adjustments brought about by the law resetting the BARMM polls from March to September this year. The elections were rescheduled following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12317, signed by Marcos in March, to provide sufficient time for the implementation of the new parliamentary district configuration after the exclusion of Sulu from the autonomous region. As candidates begin campaigning across the region starting today, government agencies have reiterated their commitment to ensuring peaceful, orderly and credible elections through close coordination among the Comelec, security forces and the Bangsamoro government. The election is widely regarded as a defining moment in the Bangsamoro peace process as it will allow voters, for the first time, to directly elect members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, replacing the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority that has governed the region since its creation in 2019. Political observers expect the campaign to focus on governance, economic development, peace and security, infrastructure, education and the continued implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, with competing political parties seeking to convince voters that they are best positioned to lead the autonomous region through its next phase of institution-building. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia earlier said the completed ballots will undergo strict verification procedures before they are delivered to the different voting centers to ensure compatibility with the automated election system and minimize technical issues on election day. Security preparations have also intensified as authorities continue to implement election-related measures aimed at preventing violence and maintaining public order throughout the campaign and election periods. Government officials have repeatedly emphasized that a successful parliamentary election is essential to strengthening democratic institutions in the Bangsamoro and sustaining the gains achieved under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. The first regular BARMM parliamentary elections are expected to usher in a fully elected regional parliament, a key milestone envisioned under the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the broader peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. With the campaign period now underway and election preparations entering their final stages, authorities expressed confidence that the September polls will demonstrate the country’s commitment to a peaceful, transparent and credible democratic exercise in the Bangsamoro region.