AREAS in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) marked in red on the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) election security map are not necessarily experiencing election-related violence today, election officials clarified, explaining that the highest security classification is primarily based on documented incidents from previous elections rather than the region's current peace and order situation.
The clarification comes as Barmm enters the final stretch of preparations for the September 14, 2026 parliamentary elections, a landmark exercise that will, for the first time, allow Bangsamoro voters to elect members of their regular parliament under the parliamentary system established through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Speaking during the 2nd Bangsamoro Parliament Speakers Bureau Training of Trainers in Davao City on August 4, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the commission wants to dispel the misconception that municipalities classified under the Red Category are currently experiencing armed conflict, election violence, or active rido. Instead, he said the classification reflects a long-term assessment based on recurring election-related incidents documented in previous electoral cycles, making it a preventive planning tool rather than a declaration that violence is unfolding on the ground.
"At first, I wondered why there were so many areas of concern, for example in Lanao del Sur. But when we found out from our security forces and the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, the basis was not recent events. There is actually no recent violence or chaos happening in those areas. The basis was the history of those areas... For example, in the past two elections, there were always problems. But there are no recent incidents. That is why it was placed in the red category."
Garcia's explanation follows Comelec's latest election security assessment, which identified 26 municipalities under the Red Category, including 21 in Lanao del Sur, two in Maguindanao del Sur, and one each in Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte and the Special Geographic Areas. Another 23 municipalities were placed under the Orange Category, 41 under Yellow because of previous election-related incidents, while 18 municipalities were classified under Green, indicating no significant election security concerns. Tawi-Tawi remains the only Barmm province where no municipality falls under the yellow, orange, or red classification.
Beyond rido: Separating history from present realities
Although the color-coded map may suggest heightened security risks, Garcia said it should not be interpreted as a real-time indicator of conflict. Instead, the security classifications are jointly determined by Comelec, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and intelligence agencies, which analyze historical election records, previous election-related incidents, the presence of armed groups and other security indicators to determine where additional law enforcement personnel and contingency measures should be deployed.
One misconception the poll chief specifically addressed was the tendency to equate the Red Category with active rido.
Derived from the Maranao and Maguindanaon languages, rido refers to protracted clan feuds arising from disputes over land, politics, family honor, business interests, or personal grievances. Unlike isolated criminal incidents, these conflicts often span generations and involve cycles of retaliation among extended families.
Research by The Asia Foundation has shown that while rido has historically fueled localized violence in parts of Mindanao — particularly during elections when rival political clans compete for public office — it should not automatically be viewed as the prevailing security condition across Barmm.
Garcia said this distinction is crucial because many municipalities now under the Red Category are no longer experiencing the same level of violence recorded in previous elections.
He added that the commission continues to reassess security classifications in coordination with the PNP, AFP, and regional election officials, with the possibility that some municipalities may be downgraded before election day should the present peace and order situation remain stable.
Zero election violence despite heightened security alerts
The evolving security landscape reflects the broader transformation that has taken place in Barmm since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 and the establishment of the autonomous region in 2019.
Peace monitors and international organizations have noted a decline in large-scale armed confrontations between government forces and former Moro rebel groups, although localized criminality, private armed groups and clan conflicts continue to pose challenges in some communities.
Garcia disclosed that no municipality or city in Barmm has been recommended for Comelec control, an extraordinary intervention reserved for areas where local authorities are deemed incapable of ensuring free, orderly and credible elections because of severe security threats. He also said investigations into recent grenade explosions and the killing of a local official indicated that these were isolated criminal incidents or personal disputes rather than organized election-related attacks.
For Garcia, accurately distinguishing ordinary criminality from election-related violence is essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
"We stated to the PNP that we must properly define what constitutes election-related violence and when it actually begins. Because many violent incidents started in January. If it happened in January, we weren't even in the election period yet. How can it be considered election-related violence? That is not the best cut-off. Recent incidents must be investigated for what they are and not automatically branded as election chaos."
The Comelec chief noted that the commission has recorded zero election-related violent incidents since the election period commenced in mid-July, despite heightened security monitoring across Barmm. He likewise cited the implementation of the election gun ban as another positive indicator.
"Look at the first day of the implementation of the gun ban across the entire Bangsamoro... not a single person was arrested, and not a single deadly weapon was confiscated outside their residences. That is a beautiful indication for the Bangsamoro. Furthermore, our number one instruction to all deployment units is that we will always protect the rights of the citizens. Checkpoints are strictly limited to visual searches," Garcia noted.
Preparing for Barmm’s historic parliamentary vote
Beyond security, Comelec said preparations for the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections have reached 95 percent completion. The commission has established 5,212 polling precincts to serve approximately 2.393 million registered voters, while around 7,000 automated counting machines will be deployed throughout Barmm, leaving more than 1,200 reserve units available to replace any equipment that may malfunction during voting.
"Out of the 2,393,000 voters in the entire Bangsamoro, we have 5,212 precincts. What Comelec did — because we now have sufficient funds with the help of the Bangsamoro Parliament — we lowered the number of voters per precinct to 600. That is why it expanded to 5,212. Because of this, the machines we are sending total 7,000, meaning we have a clear excess of 1,200 machines on standby."
Polling centers will open as early as 5 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women before regular voting continues until 7 p.m. Around 3,000 PNP personnel have likewise been trained and certified to serve as contingency Electoral Board members should teachers assigned to polling precincts become unavailable.
Misinformation emerges as the next battleground
While security preparations have largely shifted from addressing historical violence to preventing isolated disruptions, Garcia said the commission now faces a different challenge — protecting the integrity of information surrounding the elections.
He warned that false claims circulating online, including rumors that the Supreme Court had ordered another postponement of the parliamentary elections, risk confusing voters and undermining confidence in the democratic process.
For the Comelec, the first parliamentary elections are more than a political exercise — they are a defining milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process. While the election security map continues to reflect the lessons of previous polls, Garcia said it should not be mistaken as a snapshot of present-day realities. Instead, it serves as a precautionary framework that enables authorities to protect the gains of the peace process and ensure that the region's first parliamentary vote is conducted in a safe, orderly, and credible manner, where public confidence is built on verified information rather than lingering perceptions of conflict. DEF
