Exactly a week before the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to complete the deployment of ballots, automated counting machines (ACMs) and other election paraphernalia on Tuesday.

“Deployment from the hub to the municipalities is currently underway, with ballots being delivered to city treasurers and other election paraphernalia being transported to local Comelec offices,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview at the poll body’s main office on Monday.

The poll body chief added that they are also looking to conduct the final testing and sealing of the ACMs two days before the scheduled polls early next week.

“We aim to complete distribution to the municipalities before Sept. 8 so that election officers and teachers are ready for the final testing and sealing—scheduled for Sept. 12 across all 5,212 precincts in the Bangsamoro,” Garcia said.

On peace and order in the region, the Comelec chief also noted that the overall security situation should not be assessed based on a single incident.

“Regarding peace and order, one shouldn’t judge the situation solely by a single election-related incident; however, regardless of what anyone says, that incident—especially involving the interim chief minister—does not mean that it is not peaceful in the area,” he said, referring to the Aug. 15 attack against BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

“While the statistics show there was only one incident across the entire Bangsamoro—a fact we are proud of—that alone is not enough. Proper deployment of forces is essential to ensure the election proceeds smoothly from now until the actual voting day and through to the conclusion of the electoral process,” Garcia said.

On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco expressed hope that there will be an 80 percent voter turnout for the BPE, just like in the May 2025 midterm elections.

During the last elections, BARMM recorded one of the highest voter turnouts at about 84 to 86 percent.

“That is why we launched an extensive voter education program starting in July; we are explaining the significance of this election, who is eligible to vote, the voting process, and—most importantly—the impact it will have on their lives. This is a historic first, representing the fruition of the peace process and establishing the mandate for the eighty members who will sit in the parliament,” he said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing Monday.

“We truly expect our fellow citizens to participate, as we observed high levels of interest while visiting various barangays and city centers. We hope that on Sept. 14, our people will come out to vote and that we can push the voter turnout in BARMM even higher—surpassing the 80 percent mark,” the poll body official added. (PNA)