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September 14, 2026 | 7:01pm
A policeman manning the post of an election officer in Central Pilot Elementary School in Cotabato during the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections on Sept. 14, 2026.
Commission on Elections / Released
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the first parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were “generally peaceful” despite gunfire incidents reported across the region.
During a press briefing with PNP spokesperson Allen Rae Co on Monday, September 14, Co was asked whether the elections were “generally peaceful.” He answered in the affirmative, saying that the gunfire incidents were isolated.
“Dahil ang tinitingnan natin dito it becomes widespread that’s the time siguro that we will have to adjust our assessment of the situation but these are isolated incidents in several areas but generally in most areas in the BARMM voting is proceeding smoothly,” Co said.
(Because what we are looking at here—if it becomes widespread, that is probably the time we will have to adjust our assessment of the situation. But these are isolated incidents in several areas, and generally, in most areas of the BARMM, voting is proceeding smoothly.)
“We are constantly monitoring the situation. Hopefully wala na madadagdag. We have adjusted our deployment, we have calibrated our interventions para to try and prevent yung iba pa pong paglabas ng ibang insidente,” he added.
(We are constantly monitoring the situation. Hopefully, there won't be any additional incidents. We have adjusted our deployment and calibrated our interventions to try and prevent any further occurrences.)
Co also said that the PNP recorded three deaths and several injuries following the explosions and shooting incidents.
For Comelec chair Garcia, the incidents in Cotabato City were “unfortunate.”
“Sa kasalukuyan, generally peaceful naman ang ating halalan,” Garcia said in a press conference.
(At present, we can say that our elections are generally peaceful.)
“Kung kaya nga lang, lalo na dito sa Cotabato City, nagkaroon ng unfortunate incidents. Nalulungkot kami. Kinokondena natin 'yung ganyang klase ng mga insidente, lalong-lalo na't may pagkamatay ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(However, especially here in Cotabato City, there were unfortunate incidents. We are saddened by this. We condemn these kinds of incidents, especially since lives were lost among our fellow countrymen.)
Two areas in the Bangsamoro have been declared under Comelec control after shooting incidents and pre-shaded ballots.
Two areas in the Bangsamoro have been placed under Comelec control following shooting incidents and reports of pre-shaded ballots.
One shooting incident occurred at Central Pilot Elementary School in Cotabato City, where three individuals, including a police officer, were injured.
In photos sent by the poll body to reporters, PNP personnel could be seen manning the polling precincts following the incident.
According to Garcia during an afternoon press conference, the teachers serving as election officers refused to return to the polling precincts.
A gunfight between the PNP Special Action Force and an unidentified armed group also ensued in Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao del Sur.
