The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections generally peaceful, saying isolated incidents were addressed quickly and that the commission’s sworn commitment—as in the 2025 national elections—of no failure of election is being upheld.
COMELEC Commissioner Rey Bulay made the statement in a live studio interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on September 14, reporting real-time assessments from COMELEC field personnel as voting wound down across the region.
The commissioner said the commission’s preparation and the rapid response of security forces to each incident were the key factors in keeping the elections on track despite the violence.
“Natutuwa ako kasi kahit may mga isolated incidents before today, ang report sa akin na nakuha until now, real-time, ay generally peaceful. Although mayroon mang mga isolated reports talaga which has been addressed, kaya maganda ‘yung preparation namin,” Bulay said.
Bulay said COMELEC’s sworn commitment going into the elections was the same as in the 2025 midterm elections.
“Ang kasing sumpaan is walang failure of election, katulad nung 2025, ‘yung isinumpaan namin. So walang basically, mukhang maganda ‘yung pagkakakontrol namin,” he said.
The commissioner said when incidents occurred in precincts, the AFP and PNP under COMELEC’s authority moved immediately to clear the area and bring voters back to the polls.
“Pagka ganitong eleksyon, Armed Forces and PNP is under the Comelec. Pati po ang Coast Guard. Mayroon pong hindi maiiwasan, isa o dalawang barangay na may sasabihin, ‘Dito sa presinto na ‘to mayroong shooting incident.’ Ang gagawin po nila Chairman at tsaka nung complement ng military, pupunta roon, iki-clear po ‘yung kaguluhan, babalik na ho lahat ‘yung tao, pipila uli para bumoto. Paano mo aawatin? Hindi mo talaga sila maaawat, kaya nakakatuwa po,” Bulay said.
He said the willingness of Bangsamoro voters to return to the polls after security incidents were cleared was itself a testament to how much the community wanted this election to succeed.
