GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Commission on Elections in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Sunday reported that it has recorded six deaths and 15 wounded due to poll-related violence during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Comelec-BARMM regional director Atty. Ray Sumalipao said that the poll body in the region logged 29 election-related incidents during the conduct of the BSKE 2023.

However, he clarified that amid the recorded incidents in the region, the election did not see any failure of elections and all winners have already been proclaimed.

Sumalipao also said that all of the 2,574 barangays in the BARMM region successfully voted and the incidents that were recorded were considered as isolated.

The Comelec official further said that in areas like BARMM, it is very common that candidates gunning for the position are closely-related, even neighbors and siblings go toe-to-toe for one position.

He advised that cooler heads must prevail to prevent atrocities to happen.

Meanwhile, Sumalipao has acknowledged the services and support of the security personnel from the PNP and the AFP.

Comelec personnel in the BARMM were also safe during the conduct of the elections.