CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City — September 8, 2026 — The Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) has deployed 901 police personnel to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as part of heightened security preparations for the region’s first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026.
The contingent was formally sent off on Tuesday, September 8, in a ceremony attended by Atty. Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Election Director of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-10, and Police Colonel Caezar P. Cabuhat, Provincial Director of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, PRO BAR.
The deployment is composed of 850 personnel from PRO 10 and 51 personnel from National Support Units, reflecting the scale of the security and electoral support required for the upcoming polls.
Of the 901 personnel, 380 will serve as members of the Special Electoral Boards, while the remaining personnel will be assigned to provide security, logistical, and operational support during the election period.
The augmentation force is being deployed amid heightened security preparations across BARMM, where authorities are working to ensure that voters, election officials, candidates, and other stakeholders can participate in the electoral process without threats, intimidation, or disruption.
Police told to remain neutral, professional
During the send-off, PBGen Nestor C. Babagay Jr., Regional Director of PRO 10, emphasized that the personnel must carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, discipline, neutrality, and a strong commitment to public safety.
Babagay said the primary mission of the deployed personnel is to help create an environment where voters can freely exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“Your mission is clear: help ensure that the people can exercise their right to vote in a peaceful, orderly, credible, and secure environment,” Babagay said.
The regional police director directed the contingent to maintain a high level of situational awareness throughout their deployment, particularly in areas where security conditions may rapidly change.
He also ordered the personnel to maintain close coordination with PRO BAR, COMELEC, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other partner agencies involved in election security and administration.
Such coordination, he stressed, is essential in ensuring that emerging security concerns are immediately identified, reported, and addressed through a unified response.
Strict political neutrality stressed
Babagay likewise issued a strong reminder on the importance of political neutrality, particularly as police personnel assume duties directly connected to the conduct and security of the elections.
Personnel were warned against engaging in, supporting, or participating in any action that could create the impression that they are favoring a particular candidate, political party, or electoral group.
The directive underscores the police responsibility to remain impartial and to perform their duties based on law, established election-security protocols, and the mandate of the COMELEC.
For the deployed officers, neutrality is expected to be maintained not only during the actual voting but throughout the entire period of election-related activities.
The PRO 10 leadership also reminded personnel to exercise restraint and professionalism in dealing with candidates, political supporters, election workers, voters, and other stakeholders.
Safety of deployed personnel also a priority
Beyond their electoral responsibilities, Babagay placed emphasis on the safety and welfare of the deployed personnel themselves.
He instructed the contingent to look after one another throughout their assignment and to remain vigilant while performing their respective duties.
The regional director stressed that every deployed police officer must be accounted for and must return safely after completing the mission.
The deployment of the 901-strong contingent forms part of the broader security preparations for the September 14 parliamentary elections in BARMM, an important milestone in the region’s political and electoral development.
With the election approaching, security forces, election officials, and other government agencies are expected to sustain coordination and heightened readiness to protect the integrity of the voting process and the safety of the electorate.
The challenge for security personnel will be to balance firm enforcement of election laws and security protocols with respect for voters’ rights, while maintaining the strict neutrality expected of government forces during the electoral process.
For PRO 10, the message to its personnel is clear: secure the election, protect the voters, remain impartial, and return home safely.