RENEWED clan and political violence in parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is raising fresh concerns over the safety of communities and the integrity of the electoral process, as longstanding local disputes escalate ahead of the elections.
In its the latest bulletin, the Climate Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) said renewed firefights in the town of Kadayangan in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) and Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao del Sur, underscored the persistent security risks posed by rido-a cycle of clan-based conflict that can be deeply intertwined with political rivalries, land disputes and local power struggles.
In Kadayangan, fighting reignited on August 4 between forces aligned with the mayor of Nabalawag and a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander.
The clashes displaced about 1,850 people, many of whom had already been forced from their homes by earlier violence.
Although the latest fighting was not explicitly attributed to the elections, the CCAA said the opposing factions are closely associated with rival political parties. It said the violence has consequently severely restricted campaign activities, with candidates and supporters reportedly fearful of possible retaliation.
CCAA described the situation as similarly volatile in Sultan sa Barongis, where a longstanding land dispute between two families erupted into heavy gunfire on August 5. One family is linked to the barangay chairperson of Tugal, while the other has ties to a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander. The politically prominent family had also survived a targeted ambush in June, highlighting the growing risks as local electoral contests approached.
For civilians caught in these conflicts, the CCAA said the security crisis has been compounded by severe flooding.
It said families fleeing firefights have had to contend simultaneously with displacement caused by natural disasters, placing additional pressure on already vulnerable communities and local authorities.
CCAA warned that conflict and natural disasters can create a compounded humanitarian crisis, with civilians bearing the brunt of both identity-based violence and environmental hazards.
The think tank said the convergence of conflict, displacement and flooding also creates risks forthe electoral process.
Residents displaced by violence may find it difficult or unsafe to return to their communities, campaign activities may be curtailed, and voters could face obstacles in reaching polling centers on election day.
The CCAA said these conditions raise the possibility that violence could affect not only public safety but also voter participation and the ability of candidates to campaign freely.
Authorities have responded by increasing security in areas considered vulnerable to election-related violence.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated at least 100 areas as election hotspots, prompting the deployment of additional military and elite police personnel in high-risk communities.
Authorities have also intensified enforcement of the election gun ban. At least 12 individuals have been arrested for violations, although gun-related violence remains a persistent concern, with at least 10 incidents recorded during the first half of August.
The CCAA said the increased security presence has helped stabilize several high-risk areas in the immediate term. But the latest flare-ups demonstrate the limits of relying solely on security deployments to contain deeply rooted local conflicts.
For peacebuilding advocates, the CCAA said the challenge extends beyond keeping polling centers secure on election day.
In addition, the CCAA said the recurrence of rido reflects longstanding disputes over land, political influence, family rivalries and local authority. These conflicts can remain dormant for years before being reignited by political competition or other triggers.
As the elections draw closer, CCAA said temporary security measures may help prevent further escalation, but they cannot by themselves resolve the underlying disputes.
The CCAA said a credible and peaceful electoral process in BARMM will therefore require sustained conflict-resolution and reconciliation efforts alongside security operations. ‘Such mechanisms will be essential not only to protect voters and candidates during the elections, but also to prevent displaced communities from becoming trapped in recurring cycles of violence long after the ballots have been counted,’ the CCAA explained.
‘The latest clashes serve as a reminder that for many communities in BARMM, election security is inseparable from the broader challenge of building lasting peace. Without addressing the structural causes of rido, the immediate calm created by heightened security could prove only temporary,’ said the CCAA.