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Comelec confident in peaceful BARMM elections despite recent violence
🇵🇭 Philippines /Elections & Politics

Comelec confident in peaceful BARMM elections despite recent violence

From Philippine Daily Inquirer · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed confidence in holding peaceful, orderly, and credible elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14.
  • Despite recent gun attacks resulting in 14 deaths, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia noted only one election-related incident and a decrease in 'red category' areas, indicating improved security.
  • Garcia assured the public that the elections will proceed as scheduled, with Comelec being in full control of the situation in the region.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) remains optimistic about the upcoming September 14 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), despite a recent spate of gun attacks that have claimed 14 lives.

We are upbeat for the Sept. 14 regional elections.

— George Erwin GarciaComelec Chair George Erwin Garcia's statement on the upcoming BARMM elections.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia stated that the election body is "upbeat" and "on top of the situation," assuring that the elections will proceed as scheduled. He highlighted that only one incident has been classified as election-related violence: an ambush on the convoy of BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua on August 15. Macacua and his companions were unharmed in the attack.

We would like to assure that elections on Sept. 14 will happen as scheduled, nothing can stop that from happening. We are on top of the situation, we recorded only one election-related violence.

— George Erwin GarciaComelec Chair George Erwin Garcia's assurance regarding the security and schedule of the BARMM elections.

Garcia emphasized that the security situation in the region has significantly improved compared to previous elections. He noted that fewer than 20 weapons have been confiscated at checkpoints, and the number of "red category" areas, those with serious threats and a history of election-related violence, has decreased. "This only means one thing. The entire Bangsamoro is quiet and peaceful. We are in full control of the situation in the Bangsamoro," Garcia asserted.

Truthfully, there are many towns here in Bangsamoro that used to be ‘red’ category areas. Now, it has lessened. They have become ‘green,’ ‘yellow,’ ‘orange’ [category areas], and the ‘red’ category areas in the entire Bangsamoro have not increased.

— George Erwin GarciaComelec Chair George Erwin Garcia's assessment of the security situation in BARMM.

Previously, 26 areas in BARMM were designated as red category, with 23 orange, 41 yellow, and 18 green. Garcia's statement suggests a positive shift in the security landscape, despite the reported fatalities from unrelated gun attacks. The Comelec's assurance aims to foster confidence in the electoral process for the historic first parliamentary elections in the region.

This only means one thing. The entire Bangsamoro is quiet and peaceful. We are in full control of the situation in the Bangsamoro.

— George Erwin GarciaComelec Chair George Erwin Garcia's conclusion on the security status in BARMM.
About this summary

Originally published by Philippine Daily Inquirer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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