The Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees no major security threats to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, but is closely monitoring potential disruptions caused by severe weather.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that typhoons and monsoon flooding remain the primary operational concerns as the agency prepares for the regional voting.

“We are more worried about the typhoon, to be honest,” Laudiangco said.

“Because we know that the typhoon that happened here, the southwest monsoon, although it did not affect the part of Mindanao, but some typhoons are entering. That is our concern,” he added.

To mitigate potential disruptions, election authorities are preparing alternative polling sites, including schools located outside flood-prone zones, to ensure voters can safely access voting centers.

Comelec officials noted that under Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code, the poll body maintains the legal authority to suspend or reschedule voting if severe weather or natural disasters make holding elections impractical.

Alongside weather preparations, election security measures remain actively enforced. Authorities reported 15 arrests for gun ban violations and the confiscation of more than 20 firearms across the region.

The cases have undergone inquest proceedings and were referred to prosecutors.

Laudiangco reminded the public that carrying firearms without a certificate of authority is strictly prohibited and noted that security checkpoints have been deployed throughout the region.

Election officials are also treating a recent ambush involving Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua as an election-related incident.

“It happened during the campaign period, and then it happened immediately after the interim chief minister took the oath to his political party,” Laudiangco said.

“But as we said, even though we consider this an election-related incident, hopefully, this is an isolated incident,” he added.

Approximately 25,000 security checkpoints have been established across BARMM, with additional deployments planned leading up to voting day.

Laudiangco stressed that officials aim to balance security with public comfort, ensuring clear signages at checkpoints to indicate that uniformed personnel are conducting standard election duties.