THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated the Special Task Force-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (STF-Barmm) in a bid to safeguard the electoral process for the May 2025 National and Local Elections and uphold democracy in the region.
The STF-Barmm was launched on Monday, March 24, 2025, as part of the series of peace initiatives across Barmm’s mainland and island provinces, underscoring the collective effort to prevent election-related violence and maintain stability in the region.
It followed the recent Political Candidates Forum and Peace Covenant Signing hosted by the 6th Infantry Division at its headquarters in Awang, Cotabato City, on March 19.
“At the core of these initiatives is a strong commitment to securing free and fair elections through inter-agency collaboration. By fostering equality, accountability, empowerment, and unity, stakeholders are working to ensure that the people of Barmm can exercise their right to vote in an atmosphere of safety and transparency,” PNP chief General Rommel Marbil said.
“With the strong support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are committed to upholding democracy by ensuring a safe and fair electoral process. The activation of STF-Barmm underscores our dedication to maintaining peace and security, allowing the people of Barmm to exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation,” he added.
Earlier, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia recognized the ongoing conflicts in the region, instructing the PNP to strengthen security measures in the area especially ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections.
Garcia said they are looking at the reset of the Bangsamoro parliamentary election as among the reasons for the violent incidents.
On February 19, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure pushing back the Barmm polls to October 2025.
He said the postponement aims to address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure.
The Climate Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) also expressed concern over the surge of violent incidents in the Bangsamoro region despite the continued decommissioning process of former combatants.
Based on the group’s monitoring, the number of conflict incidents in the region increased by 24 percent in 2024, to 2,952 from only 2,475 in 2023. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)