Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Residents gather faround a precinct for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at Bgy. Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Daniza Fernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178462650497020190121-cotabato-plebiscite-jc-0396.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Residents gather faround a precinct for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Residents gather faround a precinct for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — There has been no poll-related violence recorded since the Bangsamoro election period began, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday.The Bangsamoro poll period is from July 16 to September 29. During this period, guns are banned and checkpoints are set up across the region.“Sa ating 167 na checkpoints, wala po kahit isa ang naaresto o nasawata o nakitaan na may dala silang armas o kaya naman deadly weapon na pinagbabawal,” Garcia told reporters in a chance interview.(There have been no arrests, nobody has been accosted at our 167 checkpoints and no guns or deadly weapons have been found.)According to Garcia, there were incidents of violence over the weekend, but those were not considered poll-related.He explained that police investigation found that the killing of a councilor in North Cotabato was due to personal reasons.Meanwhile, the grenade blasts in Maguindanao del Sur may be motivated by “revenge” after a rebel group commander was neutralized, Garcia said.So far, the Comelec has only been receiving reports of an intra-party squabble.“Hangga’t hindi naman ito nag-spill over sa ibang partido o kung kaya naman ay nagkakaroon ng kaguluhan na makakaapekto sa peace and order situation, so far, so good ang ating monitoring,” Garcia said.(Unless this splls over to other parties or there are incidents that will affect the peace and order situation, our monitoring is that it is &#x27;so far, so good&#x27;.)He added the poll body will coordinate with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prevent violence in the area.He said the two agencies should conduct joint patrols in “red category” areas or those areas of grave concern.<div> </div><div>RED CATEGORY AREAS</div>There are 27 areas under the “red” category. Of those, 21 are in Lanao del Sur.Garcia reminded the public that being in the red category does not mean there is violence in the place.He said categorization is based on incidents recorded in previous elections.There are also 27 other areas under the “orange” category — areas of immediate concern where there are serious armed threats.Thirty-nine areas are under the “yellow” category or areas of concern where there are election-related incidents in the last two polls, possible employment of private armed groups, and occurrence of election-related incidents.Fifteen are under the “green” category or areas that are generally peaceful.<div> </div><div>BALLOT PRINTING COMPLETED</div>The Comelec said it has completed the printing of 2.3 million ballots that will be used in the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary polls.It is currently verifying whether the ballots will be accepted by the machines, which will be distributed in BARMM.The campaign period for the BARMM parliamentary elections is set to begin on July 30.Garcia said social services will be prohibited during the campaign period, but he clarified that candidates may get an exemption from the poll body as long as the service will not be used to promote themselves.

The Bangsamoro poll period is from July 16 to September 29. During this period, guns are banned and checkpoints are set up across the region.

The Bangsamoro poll period is from July 16 to September 29. During this period, guns are banned and checkpoints are set up across the region.

No poll-related violence logged since start of Bangsamoro election period — Comelec

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No poll-related violence logged since start of Bangsamoro election period — Comelec

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 05:39 PM PHT

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Commission on Elections

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

George Garcia

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