Uniformed personnel to serve as poll watchers amid tensions
Uniformed personnel will take on the role of poll watchers in several towns in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur. This change comes after rising tensions led many teachers to back out from serving on the electoral board for the upcoming national and local elections.
In Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, over 800 police officers from Luzon are assigned to secure the polling center. This area is one of the few under direct control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Before kasi, hindi pa nag-declare ng Comelec control, 80% na ng mga electoral board nag-inhibit na. PNP na lang po 100% ang magse-serve as special electoral boards,” said Allan Kandon, election supervisor in Maguindanao del Sur.
Due to reported violence, the Comelec placed this area and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under its control ahead of Eleksyon 2025. This means the poll body now directly supervises all local officials and law enforcement agencies in these municipalities.
Ensuring security for voters and election workers
Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapa, regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, emphasized the importance of safety. “Ito ay para sa seguridad ng lahat. Safety ‘yung mga tao natin, safety sila na magbilang, safety lahat ng tao,” he said.
The Comelec also approved moving the canvassing of the provincial board from the capitol in Buluan to the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Datu Sinsuwat. Over the weekend, soldiers conducted clearing operations, recovering firearms such as machine guns and rifles in Datu Abdullah Sangki.
Mixed forces to oversee elections in Lanao del Sur
In Lanao del Sur, a combination of police, including the Special Action Force (SAF), and teachers will staff the electoral boards. However, in Butig—a former stronghold of the Maute Group—uniformed personnel will fully take over as poll watchers due to teachers stepping back amid tensions.
Police will also serve as poll watchers in four other municipalities in Lanao del Sur. Brigadier General Billy Dela Rosa, commanding general of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, urged voters: “Bumoto lang po tayo nang maayos. ‘Wag tayo matakot na lumabas. Naka-set-up na po ‘yung ating security diyan, and we are certain ‘yung ating mga kababayan ay protektahan po natin para makaboto.”
Removing fake voters to protect election integrity
In February, the Comelec removed over 1,700 names from the voter list in the area after identifying them as fictitious or fake. This measure aims to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections.
As Eleksyon 2025 approaches, these security measures and adjustments in poll watching roles highlight the efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible election process in troubled areas.