Comelec takes control of Cotabato, Basilan town as BARMM polls begin

The first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections kicked off with early voting hours at the San Vicente Academy in Cotabato City on September 14, 2026. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia, accompanied by other Comelec officials, personally toured and observed the proceedings.

Comelec handout

The Comelec decision comes as violence is reported in Cotabato City and pre-shaded ballots are found in Maluso town in Basilan

AT A GLANCE

• Two areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were placed under Comelec control due to violence and compromised ballots during the first parliamentary polls.
• Cotabato City experienced three violent incidents resulting in three deaths and 15 injuries, while Maluso town had pre-shaded ballots in 36 out of 68 precincts.
• Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that despite the issues, voting will continue in unaffected precincts, and new ballots will be reprinted for compromised areas.

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MANILA, Philippines – Two areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, September 14, due to reports of violence and compromised ballots as the region holds its first parliamentary polls.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced the development in a voting precinct in Cotabato City as early voting started at 5 am.

Garcia said Cotabato City was put under Comelec control because of at least three incidents of violence on Sunday night, September 13, the eve of election day. 

He said that three were dead and 15 people were injured after a confrontation while queuing up to vote resulted in physical violence and shooting at 11:45 pm on Sunday.

In another area, an explosion occurred on Sunday night. The one who set off an improvised explosive device got injured and is currently hospitalized.

Garcia said there was another shooting incident in the city but no one got hurt. 

Pre-shaded ballots 

Meanwhile, Maluso town in Basilan was also put under Comelec control as poll officials determined on Sunday night that the ballots in half of the voting precincts were compromised.

“‘Yong 36 of the 68 precincts ng mga balota, nalaman namin na ito ay lahat ay na-preshade. As to sino ang nag-preshade, alam na namin pati mga detalye,” he told reporters.

(We found that the ballots in 36 out of 68 precincts were pre-shaded. We already know who did the pre-shading and other details in the incident.)

Garcia said the Comelec will not declare a failure of election in Maluso town.

He said he immediately ordered the reprinting of ballots for the 36 precincts, with the Comelec telling voters and teachers serving for the elections to wait for the arrival of the new ballots.

For the remaining precincts, voting will continue as Comelec determined the ballots there were not compromised. However, voting in Maluso has been delayed due to the issue.

“Bagamat ilang boxes na naglalaman ng mga balota, ‘yong sealed boxes, ay na-compromise ‘yong seal, pero upon further verification, walang effect as to the integrity of the ballots. Walang napalitan and therefore ‘yan ay magagamit,” Garcia said.

(While the seals of the boxes containing the ballots were compromised, but upon verification, there is no effect to the integrity of the ballots. No ballot was changed, and therefore these ballots can be used.)

He said this was an election offense, with the Comelec was determining if the incident could be classified as a case of electoral sabotage.

More than two million voters are expected to cast their ballots during the historic BARMM parliamentary elections. – Rappler.com