COTABATO CITY — Confidence is growing that the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be peaceful, orderly, and fair as election preparations near completion
.A key part of the final preparations is the final testing and sealing of vote-counting machines (VCMs) on September 12. The machines will be used in 5,212 polling precincts across BARMM.Comelec Chair George Garcia said the testing is being done to make sure all machines are working properly and counting votes correctly before Election Day.
“Susubukan po natin ‘yung lahat ng makina kung gumagana, bumibilang ba ng tama,” Garcia said.The testing also aims to detect and fix possible technical problems before voting starts. Garcia said it is better to identify issues ahead of time rather than discover them on Election Day.
The process will also be witnessed by representatives of political parties, candidates, poll watchers, citizens’ groups, and civil society organizations as part of Comelec’s efforts to keep the election process transparent.Meanwhile, election and security agencies continue to prepare for possible peace and order concerns, especially in areas considered politically and security-sensitive.The September 14 election will be the first parliamentary polls in BARMM.
Voters will choose the members of the region’s first elected Parliament, marking an important step in the transition toward a fully elected parliamentary government.
Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the election as the “fruition,” or result, of decades of efforts to achieve peace in the Bangsamoro.Lagdameo also called the election a “historic moment” for both BARMM and the Philippines, highlighting its importance in strengthening democracy and protecting the gains of the peace process.
As Election Day approaches, Comelec and other stakeholders continue to work toward a peaceful, orderly, fair, and credible election that could open a new chapter in Bangsamoro self-governance.
