The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday assured that preparations for the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections continue amid a recent attack against the region’s top official.
“Preparations and deployments in the Bangsamoro region are proceeding as planned. Training for personnel and teachers is continuing without interruption,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview.
At the same time, the poll body chief added that they are not intimidated by the incident over the weekend, when the convoy of Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua was attacked by still unknown assailants at around 4:45 p.m. Saturday along the General Santos–Cotabato National Highway, Barangay Bitu, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
“We are not intimidated by incidents of this nature. Everything is proceeding normally, even with the Chief Minister involved. The election on Sept. 14 is definitely pushing through. We have ordered increased security for the ballots, boxes, machines, and other paraphernalia to be used on Sept. 14,” he said.
“This incident disrupted the record of zero election-related violence in the BARMM elections. From the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) through the election and campaign periods, there was virtually no election-related violence. Even if no one was injured, the intent was to create tension; we will not let an incident like this pass without action,” Garcia added.
Garcia, meanwhile, said they classified the incident as an act of election-related violence.
“Although the PNP has not yet issued a formal declaration, the fact remains that he is an incumbent chief minister and a candidate. The incident occurred after he had taken his oath as a member of the BFP and was appointed chairman,” he added.
“The purpose was to create tension—to stir up talk within the Bangsamoro region, as there had been no discussion of violence before this. We cannot say the intent was to take a life, but a threat is a threat nonetheless. That is why we view this as a threat to the election preparations,” he added.
On the other hand, Garcia reported that the present situation in the area is so far normal.
“The situation is normal so far. At the same time, our personnel—specifically election officers—have been provided with security details to prevent a recurrence of past incidents. The PNP is providing security personnel to those who request them. This gives us a great deal of confidence,” he said. (PNA)