International observers arrive for historic Bangsamoro polls
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A delegation from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) arrived in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Thursday to observe the region’s historic parliamentary elections on Monday, Sept. 14.
This developed as more police officers were deployed on Thursday while the military is set to send additional troops and ground and air assets to augment the existing security forces in the region.
The IRI mission will monitor the conduct of the BARMM parliamentary elections until Sept. 15, focusing on the political and campaign climate, security arrangements, and the voting process.
READ: Moro group rallies voters ahead of historic BARMM polls
“As the BARMM prepares to hold its first parliamentary elections, this historic vote marks an important milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process and an important test of the region’s democratic institutions,” IRI Vice Chairman Randy Scheunemann, the delegation head, said in a statement.
“Credible elections will help strengthen representative government, support long-term stability, and foster lasting democratic progress,” he added.
During their deployment, the observers will meet with a broad range of stakeholders, including election authorities, political parties, and civil society organizations.
IRI spokesperson Parker Novak told the Inquirer the mission is composed of 12 domestic and international observers.
They will be observing the elections in Cotabato City and Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte on Sept. 14, he added.
IRI noted that all mission activities will remain strictly non-partisan and will not interfere in the electoral process.
Assessments and recommendations will be guided by Philippine laws, international electoral standards, and the 2005 United Nations Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct, it added.
Since 1983, the IRI, which advances democracy, open governance, and the rule of law, has organized at least 270 international election observation missions across the world.
The IRI is the second international mission observing the BARMM polls, after the joint Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which deployed a 10-man team since the campaign period kicked off in mid-July. ANFREL is based in Thailand while NDI is in the United States.
More troops
With a few days to go before polling, 350 police officers from Police Regional Offices 11 and 12 were deployed on Thursday in Maguindanao del Sur.
“These augmentation forces strengthen the province’s security posture for the historic 2026 BARMM parliamentary elections,” Police Col. Michael Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur police director, said.
READ: More troops, tanks coming to beef up security for Bangsamoro polls
On the part of the military, Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the security sector is prepared to respond to any possible situation that may arise during the first-ever regional parliamentary elections on Monday.
He stressed that the military continues to coordinate with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the police, local government units, and other stakeholders to address security concerns before, during and after the elections.
Police Brig. Gen. Jemuel Siason, deputy director of the Bangsamoro regional police, said the BARMM police are also “100 percent ready for the elections.”
Siason said around 5,000 police augmentation personnel from Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 have already arrived.
Additional Sabrah tanks, ATMOS (Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System) 155mm artillery systems, air assets, and two army battalions are set to be deployed in Lanao del Sur before Monday’s elections, Maj. Noelio Brigole, spokesperson of the Army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, said.
These will reinforce the armored and fire-support units from 10 battalions already deployed there, he added. — With reports from Edwin O. Fernandez and Leah D. Agonoy /das
