PNP: BARMM polls still under control despite explosions, shootings

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The situation in the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remained under control despite explosions and shooting incidents, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said the electoral process remained generally peaceful.

“Under control pa rin. Generally peaceful ito. Why do we say it's generally peaceful? In the majority of areas within BARMM ay napaka-peaceful po na nangyari ng electoral process,” Co said.

(Still under control. It's generally peaceful. Why do we say it's generally peaceful? In the majority of areas within BARMM, the electoral process was very peaceful.)

“Nangyari man lamang na meron po ibang areas ma mga isolated incidents like this and we are calibrating our response and we will respond with force and the necessary intervention as the situation requires,” he added.

(It just happened that there are isolated incidents like these in other areas and we are calibrating our response and we will respond with force and the necessary intervention as the situation requires.)

Co reported three shooting incidents in Basilan, Cotabato City, and Maguindanao del Sur; three alleged explosions in Cotabato City; and the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Basilan.

In Cotabato City, three people were killed and 15 others were injured in a shooting incident outside an elementary school. In the same city, a suspect who allegedly brought an IED was injured.

Around 98.14% of polling precincts already started accepting votes. Around 22 precincts in Basilan had yet to begin voting.

In Maluso, Basilan, authorities were also addressing the discovery of pre-shaded ballots, according to the PNP. Replacement ballots were being delivered to the affected precincts.

The PNP, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard, continued to provide security support in the region.

More than 1,700 PNP personnel were deployed, who could serve as members of special electoral boards in case teachers back out.

Maluso, Basilan and Cotabato City are placed under Comelec control.

Co said areas placed under Comelec control will receive additional support from the PNP and AFP including personnel, equipment, vehicles and transportation facilities. — RSJ, GMA News