Comelec conducts final testing, sealing for Sept. 14 BARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday conducted the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines (ACMs) in Mindanao for the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday, Sept. 14.

Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia said that all ACMs and other election paraphernalia are already sealed and packed in 5, 212 precincts across the region.

READ: First BARMM elections set for Sept. 14 after four postponements

Garcia, alongside the BARMM electoral board members, initiated the final preparations for the historic polls in the region at the Cotabato City Institute, one of the polling centers, early Saturday.

He said that the poll body is ensuring that the electoral process would not be compromised.

“Sa operasyon ng makina kailangan lang dalawa ng dalawang miyembro ang magpapasok ng kanilang card and therefore walang isang tao, walang isang miyembro may control ng operasyon ng makina,” Garcia explained during an ambush interview after the final testing and sealing of ACMs.

(“For the machine’s operation, two members are required to insert their cards; therefore, no single person—no single member—has control over the machine’s operation.”)

Around 2.3 million voters are expected to elect 80 members of its first-ever BARMM parliament after being posted four times.

Garcia said that the poll body is also ready to implement its peace and order operations on Monday and after the elections.

He then advised the public in BARMM to remain vigilant for possible postelection commotions or disturbance.

“Pero gusto ko lang sabihin, yung mga kababayan natin sa Bangsamoro, dapat hindi lang hanggang Monday. Dapat hanggang after the election, mapagmatyag tayo dahil po minsan, lalong-lalo na yung mga hindi papalarin, hindi po minsan tinatanggap ang pagkatalo nila. Handan naman po ang Comelec sa ganitong mga pangyayari o insidente,” Garcia expressed.

(“But I just want to say to our fellow citizens in the Bangsamoro, vigilance shouldn’t end on Monday. We must remain watchful even after the election, because sometimes– especially those who are unsuccessful– do not accept their defeat. The Comelec is prepared for such events or incidents.”)

Around 10,000 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel and 30,000 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines were deployed across the region, primarily in areas under red category or those with serious threats and history of election-related violence.

The PNP earlier said that a full alert status is in effect until Sept. 30. /mr