DAVAO CITY (September 7) — More than 400 police personnel from Region 9 arrived in Basilan on Monday afternoon as an augmentation force to strengthen security for the September 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, authorities said.
The police personnel from the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) will augment local security forces in monitoring election areas and maintaining peace and order as the region prepares for its first parliamentary polls.
Their deployment comes amid heightened security preparations across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly in areas identified as having varying levels of security risks.
The Philippine National Police has identified 108 areas across BARMM as areas of concern, with Basilan among the provinces with areas classified from low to high risk. Lanao del Sur has the highest number of red-category areas, while Maguindanao del Sur also has several high-risk areas.
PRO-9 is among the police regional offices in neighboring Mindanao regions tapped to augment the BARMM security force. Earlier, police authorities said regional commands from Regions 9, 10, 11 and 12 would each provide personnel for the election security mission.
The arrival of the Region 9 contingent in Basilan brings additional police presence to the island province just one week before the September 14 elections.
The PNP has been ramping up security operations following reports of gun-related incidents and other security concerns in BARMM. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has directed police units to intensify enforcement of the election gun ban and strengthen coordination with the military and other security agencies.
The election gun ban has been in effect throughout BARMM since July 16 and will remain until September 29.
Nationally, the PNP has committed thousands of personnel to the election security operation. Earlier security plans called for about 8,299 PNP personnel to be deployed across BARMM, with the number subject to augmentation depending on threat assessments and the requirements of the Commission on Elections.
PRO-BAR officials had also earlier said they needed additional personnel from neighboring police regions to supplement their organic force, particularly in areas where security risks are considered high.
The additional deployment is intended to ensure that voters can freely exercise their right to vote and that candidates, election workers and polling places remain secure during the electoral process.
The September 14 polls will be the first parliamentary elections in BARMM, covering Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi, as well as Cotabato City and the Special Geographic Area.
Security forces are expected to remain on heightened alert through Election Day as authorities seek to prevent violence, enforce the gun ban and protect the integrity of the historic polls.-Editha Z Caduaya
