In a show of solidarity, various government agencies and civil society organizations in Northern Mindanao have come together to ensure the peaceful execution of the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. The commitment was formalized during a pledge signing event organized by the Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) in Cagayan de Oro City on February 5, 2025.
The event saw participation from key stakeholders, including the Commission on Elections in Northern Mindanao (Comelec-10), which is pivotal in overseeing the electoral process. Maria Dulce Cuevas-Banzon, Assistant Director of Comelec-10, highlighted the significance of conducting the first-ever parliamentary election in BARMM’s history in a free, credible, and organized manner. She expressed gratitude towards law enforcement for their role in securing election personnel and equipment.
Scheduled to align with the national and local elections on May 12, 2025, the BARMM parliamentary elections face potential delays due to a pending bill in Congress, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has marked as urgent.
Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, the director of PRO-10, underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in ensuring the elections are peaceful, orderly, and honest. The pledge was also supported by other government bodies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, the Department of Education, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Civil society’s involvement was evident with groups like the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, and various religious organizations joining the initiative, demonstrating a broad-based commitment to a successful electoral process.