Comelec: 27 BARMM areas under ‘red category’ ahead of parliamentary polls
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 27 areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were classified under the red category ahead of the first parliamentary elections in the region on September 14, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Areas under the red category are those with serious threats and a history of election-related violence.
Based on Comelec’s list of areas of concern for the BARMM elections as of July 15, twenty one (21) of these areas came from Lanao del Sur; three from Maguindanao del Sur; and one each from Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur, and Special Geographic Areas.
Here are the areas under the red category:
Lanao del Sur
- Bayang
- Binidayan
- Butig
- Ganassi
- Kapai
- Lumbaca Unayan
- Lumbatan
- Lumbayanague
- Marantao
- Marogong
- Masiu
- Mulondo
- Pagayawan
- Piagapo
- Poona Bayabao
- Pualas
- Saguiaran
- Sultan Dumalondong
- Tamparan
- Taraka
- Tubaran
Maguindanao del Sur
- Pandag
- Shariff Aguak
- Shariff Saydona Musthapa
Basilan
- Al-Barka
Maguindanao del Norte
- Datu Odin Sinsuat
Special Geographic Areas
- Tugunan
Meanwhile, 27 areas were placed under the orange category or those with serious threats. Fourteen of them came from Maguindanao del Sur, five from Lanao del Sur, three each from Maguindanao del Norte and Special Geographic Areas, and two from Basilan.
READ: Marcos OKs AFP, PNP deputation for peaceful BARMM elections
Yellow status or those with a history of election-related incidents were raised over 14 areas in Lanao del Sur, nine from Maguindanao del Norte, seven from Maguindanao del Sur, five from Basilan, and four from Special Geographic Areas.
Lastly, there were 15 areas under the green category or those with no security concerns: 11 from Tawi-Tawi and four from Basilan.
The Philippine National Police on Friday said no security threat had been monitored so far as the gun ban was already being implemented for the elections.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that the police established checkpoints for the gun ban from July 16, 2026 to September 29, 2026.
A total of 8,299 personnel were deployed for the conduct of the elections, of whom 4,983 came from the Police Regional Office – BARMM; 1,316 from the national support units; and 2,000 from other police regional offices. /apl
