The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a comprehensive, intelligence-driven security campaign to secure the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections scheduled for this September.
The strategy prioritizes the dismantling of private armed groups and the prevention of electoral violence across the region.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. characterized the current security landscape as manageable but sensitive.
He emphasized that the police are focusing heavily on historical flashpoints and areas known for armed group activity to ensure the integrity of the democratic process.
“We are under strict instructions from the President to ensure that the ‘rule of the gun’ does not supersede the ‘rule of the ballot.’ Our campaign against loose firearms and the neutralization of Private Armed Groups is aggressive and continuous,” Nartatez stated.
In preparation for the September 14 polls—established under Republic Act No. 12317—the PNP has already categorized specific zones as “red areas” necessitating high-level security interventions. Nartatez clarified that the police are moving away from a reactive stance to a proactive one.
“We will not wait for violence to occur; we will dismantle the machinery of intimidation before the first vote is even cast,” he added.
The upcoming elections follow several postponements since 2022. According to Nartatez, the additional time granted by the rescheduling has allowed the PNP to refine its intelligence gathering, threat group validation, and hotspot mapping.
To maintain total impartiality, the PNP plans to deploy approximately 9,000 personnel, many of whom will be mobilized from regions outside of BARMM.
This contingent will include elite units from the Special Action Force (SAF) to mitigate risks associated with local political pressures.
“A significant portion will come from outside the region, including elite units from the Special Action Force. This ensures no officer is placed in a situation where personal ties could affect professional duty,” Nartatez explained.
The PNP maintains that these cross-regional deployments are essential to insulating officers from local influence and ensuring that the first regional parliamentary vote remains peaceful and credible.