THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday urged all candidates and political parties to adhere to the rules and regulations as the 45-day campaign period for the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) kicks off today.
“Starting midnight (Thursday), we will fully implement all election laws, especially for candidates and political parties. I hope the campaigning will go smoothly so we can prove that we can conduct fair elections in the Bangsamoro,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said.
“Whatever rules were implemented in the May 2025 polls, they will also be implemented starting (today), especially for candidates and political parties,” he also said.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said some 16,000 additional policemen will be deployed to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure the October 13 parliamentary elections will be peaceful and orderly.
In an interview with reporters at Camp Crame, Nartatez said the “template” in securing the first BARMM parliamentary elections is already place.
Nartatez was the commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao before he took the helm of the PNP last Tuesday, vice Gen. Nicolas Torre III who was relieved from the top PNP post.
“I was there supervising the operation and giving direction to the operations of the BARMM (police regional office). Of course, our BARMM parliamentary elections will push through on October 13. It will push through,” he said.
Nartatez said there was no failure of elections in the region during the May 2025 national and local elections, where he served as security task force commander.
“We will just follow the template and improve it, utilize our resources. We have our mandate to ensure that the election will push through,” he said, adding that the PNP will “make sure it (BARMM elections) is safe, secured and fair.”
Nartatez said the BARMM police regional office has conducted initial assessment of threat groups that may derail the peaceful conduct of the elections, which he said are the communist and terrorist groups, criminal gangs and private armed groups.
He also said the PNP will intensify operations against the so-called “guns, goons and gold” during the elections.
They will likewise check on the personalities who were involved in previous election-related violence and the specific areas where these incidents occurred as part of their security preparations.
Asked how many additional policemen will be sent to BARMM to secure the elections, Nartatez said: “If I am not mistaken, about 16,000 additional forces. This is in addition to the current strength of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcment units (in the region).”
“If there is a need, we will send more upon recommendation of the Comelec,” he said.
PROHIBITED ACTS
During the campaign period, candidates, their spouse or any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, their campaign manager and their representatives are prohibited from giving donations.
The appointment or use of special policemen, confidential agents, or persons performing similar functions are also prohibited, as well as the appointment or hiring of new employees and the creation of new positions in a government agency or instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, except upon prior authority of the Comelec.
It is also considered illegal to promote or give salary increases, remuneration, or privileges to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations; and the release, disbursement, and expenditures of public funds.
The construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works, except for projects or works exempted, and the issuance of treasury warrants or similar devices is also banned.
Candidates and political parties are also prohibited from removing, destroying, obliterating, or in any manner defacing or tampering with, or preventing the distribution of lawful election propaganda.
The use of armored land, water, or air craft; during the campaign period is also prohibited.
The Comelec said policemen and security guards acting as bodyguards during the campaign period is also banned.
Garcia said the poll body will hold accountable anyone engaged who will be found engaging in vote buying activities.
Garcia said the Comelec preparations for the October 13 polls will resume, including the continuation of the printing of official ballots today.
He said they can no longer wait for the signing of the law on the redistricting and reapportionment of the BARMM because they will risk being ill-prepared to conduct the BPE is they wait for the measure to be enacted.
