COTABATO CITY: The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) reported no security threats to the ongoing filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, set to coincide with the national midterm elections in May 2025. Following a successful security operation during the Undas observance, PRO-BAR has declared readiness for the week-long filing period, which began Monday and will continue until Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-BAR Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz assured the public that heightened security measures will remain in place to maintain peace and order. ‘Our alert status will not be lowered,’ Macapaz said, emphasizing the importance of increased police visibility at designated filing venues, including Comelec provincial offices, the Bangsamoro Government Center, and other key areas.
Police personnel have been deployed at filing locations to manage crowd control, traffic flow, and offer assistance thro
ugh help desks for candidates and the public. Macapaz underscored the significance of community cooperation in maintaining security protocols, urging the public to continue supporting peace efforts during the election preparations. ‘The Bangsamoro police remain committed to impartiality and non-partisanship, serving all without bias and upholding the rule of law,’ he added.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, both Comelec-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and PRO-BAR confirmed a smooth start to the filing process, with no reported incidents. In addition to COCs, the Comelec has opened the filing for party Lists of Nominees and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination for regional parliamentary political parties.
The upcoming parliamentary election will fill 73 of the 80 Bangsamoro parliamentary seats, reduced after a Supreme Court ruling separated Sulu from the BARMM government earlier this year. The filing period marks a historic step in BARMM’s political evolution, with elected representatives to
take office for the first time on May 12, 2025.