Marcos, Comelec to BARMM voters: Don't be afraid to cast your votes amid incidents

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called on qualified voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to take part in the region’s first parliamentary polls with wisdom and respect for each other.

The historic BARMM parliamentary polls kicked off on Monday, September 14, 2026, as over 5,000 voting precincts opened across the region.

In a video message, the President said the event is a “defining moment in the history” of BARMM and the country as voters choose the representatives who will constitute the first democratically elected Bangsamoro Parliament.

“This election marks a milestone in the continuing journey of the BARMM towards lasting peace, democratic governance, and meaningful self-determination,” Marcos said.

“I therefore encourage every qualified voter to take part in this momentous event with wisdom, dignity, and respect for one another. May the votes that you will cast help us identify good leaders who can strengthen the institutions of the Bangsamoro and contribute to the progress of Mindanao and the entire nation,” he added.

Marcos also urged all participants in the elections to safeguard the integrity of the ballot and preserve the peace that has made the democratic exercise possible.

“As we nurture our Bagong Pilipinas, may the choices that we make further deepen our sense of civic duty and forge stronger bonds that hold us together as one nation,” he said.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia also urged voters to have courage and participate in the polls despite the recent violent incidents and pre-shaded ballots.

Comelec made the statement , as BARMM holds its first parliamentary election.

"Yung mga kababayan natin dito sa Bangsamoro, mas lalo nating ipakita ang tapang natin. Huwag po tayong magpapatinag. Huwag po tayong magpapatakot sa kanila. Lalo po tayong bumoto," Garcia said during his visit to Sero Central Elementary School in Cotabato City.

(To our countrymen in the Bangsamoro, let us have more courage. Do not be shaken. Do not be afraid of them. Let us have more courage to vote.)

The Comelec chairperson assured the public that the poll body and other concerned agencies and groups are working to ensure voters will be able to cast their votes.

"The reason why nandito ang Comelec, nandito ang international observers, nandito po yung lahat po ng mga iba't ibang sektor, upang ipakita sa ating mga kababayan na naandito po kami. Huwag po kayong matatakot," Garcia said.

(The reason why the Comelec, international observers, and other sectors are here is to show that our countrymen are not alone. Do not be afraid.)

"Kayo po ay magiging ligtas sa paglabas po ninyo sa inyong mga bahay at pagpunta sa mga presinto," he added.

(You, voters, will be safe outside your homes and on your way to the precincts.)

Comelec en banc on Monday placed two areas, Cotabato City and Maluso in Basilan, under Comelec control due to incidents of violence and discovery of pre-shaded ballots.

Three people died while 15 others were wounded following a shootout triggered by a commotion between rival political supporters outside a school in Cotabato City on the eve of the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

The incident occurred on Monday at the Datu Usman Mampen school site in Barangay Bagua 2.

Meanwhile, 36 of the 68 precincts were compromised in Maluso Town, as the poll body discovered that all of the ballots were pre-shaded.

Garcia earlier said they are expecting that there will be no failure of election in BARMM, adding that authorities are investigating the incidents.

As part of the region’s peace process, the Bangsamoro election marks a major step in the transition from an interim government through the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to an elected regional administration.

In the Bangsamoro region, the legislative power is vested in the Bangsamoro Parliament, while the executive power is given to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the judicial power is exercised in the Supreme Court, as well as in the Shari’ah and regular courts within the Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction that form part of the Philippine judicial system.