Some 16,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are set to be deployed to maintain peace and order during the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on October 13, newly installed acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said on Wednesday.
“I was there supervising the operation and giving direction to the operations of the BARMM. Of course, BARMM parliamentary elections will push through on Oct. 13. About 16,000 additional forces will be added to the current strength of the PNP, including other law enforcement units. If there is a need for additional force, we will add upon our recommendation to the Comelec,” Nartatez told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Nartatez said they are exerting all efforts to prevent poll-related violence. He said the units, particularly the Police Regional Office (PRO) BAR led by Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, have already studied and taken into account threat groups.
“After the election that’s what we will do—guns, goons and gold. We have studied in the past how many and who committed violence in that area and in what area,” said Nartatez.
In accordance with a resolution issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the gun ban in the region started on August 14 and will last until October 28, or the election period for the BARMM polls.
Earlier, around 94 towns and municipalities in BARMM were placed under the “red” category or areas of grave concern. Two towns—Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte—are under Comelec control due to violence, but the declaration may be lifted soon.
Covered by the Comelec resolution are the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, and BARMM’s eight new municipalities (Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan), known as the Special Geographic Area in North Cotabato.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 11149, prohibited during the election period are the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons unless authorized in writing by the poll body; the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates unless authorized in writing by the commission; and the organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar groups.
The poll body also prohibits the suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officials; transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, except upon prior approval of the Comelec; and alteration of the territory of a polling precinct or establishment of a new precinct.
Violators may face imprisonment of one to six years, without probation; disqualification from holding public office and loss of the right to vote; and deportation for foreigners after serving the prison term.
