The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has lifted its control over two towns in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after months of heightened security measures.
Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco confirmed that the municipalities of Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte are no longer under Comelec control.
The two areas were earlier placed under Comelec control due to election-related incidents before the May 2025 midterm polls. However, with no new unrest recorded in recent weeks, the Comelec has decided to lift its authority over the towns.
Laudiangco assured that preparations are ongoing for the first BARMM parliamentary elections in October. He added that the printing of official ballots, which was temporarily suspended at the National Printing Office (NPO), is set to resume by the first week of September.
The BARMM parliamentary elections are seen as a historic milestone in the region, being the first to elect members of the Bangsamoro Parliament since the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.