Camille Naredo

The Palacio Del Gobernador headquarters to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros Manila on November 11, 2021.

The Palacio Del Gobernador headquarters to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros Manila on November 11, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PH ELECTION

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178694903331020211111-comelec-building-JC-013751950.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Palacio Del Gobernador headquarters to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros Manila on November 11, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>The Palacio Del Gobernador headquarters to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros Manila on November 11, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said recent incidents of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will not derail preparations for the parliamentary elections.This came after BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof &quot;Sammy Gambar&quot; Macacua survived an ambush in Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday, shortly after he was selected to lead a new regional party seeking seats in the Sept. 14 polls.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/15/barmm-interim-chief-minister-macacua-s-convoy-ambushed-in-maguindanao-del-norte-2029">READ: BARMM Interim chief minister Macacua&#x27;s convoy ambushed in Maguindanao del Norte</a></div>Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that the BARMM is &quot;generally peaceful&quot; amid the incident. He also noted that the number of areas classified under the highest-risk red category had dropped from 27 to 26.&quot;Sa ngayon po itinuturing po ng Commission on Elections na ang nangyaring pagdadambang kay Interim Chief Minister Macacua ay parang isolated incident… nananatili po na generally peaceful ang situation sa Bangsamoro,&quot; Laudiangco said.Laudiangco said the Comelec has asked law enforcement agencies to maintain strict security measures and deploy additional personnel from other regions if necessary.More than 18,000 checkpoints are currently operating in BARMM, he said.However, Laudiangco said that the increase in security presence should not intimidate residents or make communities feel militarized.&quot;Bagama&#x27;t po hiniling ng Comelec ang pagdadagdag ng puwersa ng pamahalaan, pero sinabi po ni Chairman (George) Garcia, at malinaw po ito, hindi dapat magdulot ng takot o hindi dapat magdulot ng stigma doon sa mga kababayan natin sa kanilang bayan, lalo na po diyan.&quot;&quot;Dapat ma-convey pa rin natin sa ating mamamayan sa Bangsamoro na malayang demokrasya ang pinoprotektahan dito,&quot; he said. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/16/palace-orders-probe-into-ambush-on-barmm-interim-chief-minister-1310">READ: Palace orders probe into ambush on BARMM interim chief minister</a></div>Laudiangco also ruled out postponing the September 14 elections because of the recent violence.&quot;Hindi po ito magiging dahilan. Ang latest na karahasan po ito ay hindi magiging dahilan para tumigil ang paghahanda o kaya mag-isip kami [kung] may postponement ba,&quot; he said.Malacañang also assured that the much-anticipated BARMM elections next month will not be affected by the attack on Macacua.&quot;Katulad po ng nabanggit natin na mensahe ng Pangulo, hindi po ito makakapigil sa anumang balak na magkaroon ng tuluy-tuloy na pagbabago para sa pagkakaroon ng pamahalaang demokratiko sa komunidad ng BARMM,&quot; Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said in a briefing Monday, August 17.  &quot;Ayon din naman po sa Comelec ay tuluy-tuloy rin po ang eleksiyon at naghahanda po sila para sa isang peaceful na eleksiyon. At generally, sabi ng Comelec ay peaceful naman ang buong BARMM,&quot; she added. As to the investigation into the incident, the Palace official said they are leaving it up to authorities. &quot;Patungkol naman po sa PNP, sa ngayon po ay malalimang pag-iimbestiga pa rin ang isinasagawa nila. Pero kung anuman po ang operasyon para malaman kung sino ang nasa likod nito ay ipapaubaya na lamang po natin sa PNP, at hindi po natin maaaring ibunyag sa lahat kung ano pa ang kanilang mga ginagawang pag-iimbestiga at operasyon,&quot; Castro stated. The Comelec said its risk classification system considers the presence of armed groups, election-related incidents in previous elections and the level of political rivalry in an area.Laudiangco said they hope to reduce the number of red-category areas and avoid placing areas under Comelec control.&quot;Maitama lang po natin ang security situation, magkaroon ng sapat na bilang ng mga government forces, at higit sa lahat, maiparamdam sa bawat member ng bansamuro na malaya silang makakaboto at matiwasay na makakauwi sa tahanan nila pagkatapos ng halalan,&quot; he said.<div> </div><div>BSKE PREPS TO PROCEED</div>Laudiangco said the Comelec will also continue preparations for the Nov. 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), unless Congress passes a new law changing the schedule or terms of barangay and SK officials.&quot;Bagama&#x27;t kami po ay napapa-attend sa ating Kongreso at Senado ng mga pagpupulong tungkol sa mga pending bills, resetting, postponement, change ng terms ng ating barangay at SK officials, malinaw po ang mensahe ni Chairman Garcia. Umiiral ang Republic Act 12232 na nagtakda ng ating barangay at SK elections sa November 2, 2026,&quot; Laudiangco said. He said ballots and other election materials have already been procured for around 75 million voters expected to participate in the polls.The poll body also set a training for teachers managing polling precincts in September, he said. Meanwhile, Laudiangco said the Comelec will require barangay and SK candidates to submit their birth certificates to verify their age and prevent a repeat of the nearly 7,000 cases filed in previous elections involving candidates who exceeded the age limit.<div>-- with a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</div>

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said recent incidents of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will not derail preparations for the parliamentary elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said recent incidents of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will not derail preparations for the parliamentary elections.

Comelec: BARMM 'generally peaceful' amid ambush on chief minister's convoy

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Comelec: BARMM 'generally peaceful' amid ambush on chief minister's convoy

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 17, 2026 02:45 PM PHT

|

Updated August 17, 2026 03:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Comelec

BARMM

BSKE

violence

ambush

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

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