PPCRV needs 30,000 volunteers for Bangsamoro polls

COTABATO CITY – The nongovernment group Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is seeking some 30,000 volunteers to assist the Church-based poll watchdog in the upcoming first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) in September this year.

PPCRV regional chairperson Fr. David Procalla, of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, said the volunteers will be assigned to do various election-related activities, including poll watching, voter education, election monitoring, and manning the voter assistance desks across the region.

READ: Peace adviser to BARMM: Stay calm, united ahead of September polls

“These initiatives aim to help ensure a peaceful, clean, and credible electoral process in the Bangsamoro region in partnership with the police, military and other major stakeholders,” Procalla said.

He said individuals interested in becoming PPCRV volunteers may coordinate directly with their respective parish priests or the PPCRV provincial and municipal coordinators.

The PPCRV-BARMM hosted a key stakeholders’ meeting under the theme “Shaping Alliance for BARMM’s Future” recently in Makati City.

The high-level gathering brought together Commission on Elections chairperson George Erwin Garcia, senior police officials, and representatives from civil society organizations to align strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Discussions focused on election preparedness, comprehensive security measures and multi-sectoral cooperation.

The eection period for the 2026 BARMM polls is from July 16, 2026 until Sept. 29, 2026. During this time, a gun ban will be in effect.

As the Comelec’s official non-partisan citizens’ arm, the PPCRV will lead voter education initiatives and election observation efforts to help safeguard the integrity of the historic polls.

Comelec chair Garcia firmly emphasized that the first-ever BARMM parliamentary elections will proceed as scheduled on September 14, 2026.

“No ifs and buts, the election will push through at all cost,” Garcia said, underscoring Comelec’s determination to hold the elections on the prescribed date.

However, Garcia shared that there are still certain circumstances that could potentially affect the conduct of the elections, particularly if the Supreme Court issues a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) related to pending cases concerning the BARMM elections.

According to Garcia, three cases are currently pending before the highest court. /jpv