The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced plans to deploy personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as backup electoral board members for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The training for the police officers is set to begin next week. Once trained, these officers will be assigned to various provinces in BARMM to ensure order and security during the elections. This measure aims to bolster safety for teachers and guarantee their access to voting precincts without disruptions.
The decision comes in response to an incident during the 2023 Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Cotabato City, where several teachers backed out from their electoral duties due to safety concerns. By involving PNP personnel, the COMELEC seeks to prevent similar occurrences and maintain a smooth electoral process in the region.
The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding democratic processes and ensuring the successful conduct of elections in BARMM, a region with unique security challenges. COMELEC has reiterated its focus on protecting voters, electoral board members, and the integrity of the election results.
