Despite the recent ambush targeting Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, Malacañang has confirmed that the autonomous region’s first-ever regular election will push through as scheduled.
‘As mentioned in the President’s message, this will not hinder any plans for continuous reform aimed at establishing a democratic government within the BARMM community,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing last Monday.
Quoting the Commission on Elections (Comelec), she said preparations for the BARMM polls in September are still ongoing.
The poll body also noted that except for the recent attempt on Macacua’s life by still unidentified gunmen last Saturday afternoon in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the security situation in BARMM remains peaceful.
During the weekend, Marcos ordered all concerned government agencies to intensify security in BARMM and to hold accountable those responsible for the said attack.
The Chief Executive also called for calm in the region in the aftermath of the said ambush attempt.
‘However, we will leave the operations to identify those behind this to the PNP, and we cannot disclose the details of their ongoing investigations and operations to the public,’ Castro said.
The BARMM election is scheduled to be held on September 14, 2026. It was originally set to be held in May 2022, but it was deferred multiple times because of the pandemic and decision from the Supreme Court.
Comelec earlier said it has spent P63 million to complete the printing of 2.3 million ballots, which will be used in said polls.