Defense and energy officials conducted joint field inspections of key energy facilities in Maguindanao del Norte and Cotabato City on Monday to safeguard power supply for the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.

Defense Undersecretary Angelito M. de Leon and Energy Undersecretary Mario C. Marasigan led the effort under the Energy Task Force Election Security Group, which coordinates security among government agencies, military units and distribution utilities.

Before inspecting the Cotabato Light and Power Co. and the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, De Leon and Marasigan met with Brig. Gen. Ricky P. Bunayog, acting commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central.

The officials discussed regional power security, potential vulnerabilities, and contingency measures to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply during the 14 September vote.

Bunayog stressed that military personnel remain committed to protecting critical energy infrastructure alongside local governments and utility providers throughout the election period.

In a separate initiative to prepare for the polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) signed a memorandum of agreement Monday with Dynamic Outsource Solutions Inc. to establish a centralized digital platform for the BARMM vote.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia signed the agreement with company representatives.

Under the contract, the firm will develop the Reporting and Issues Management System to track and resolve operational and technical reports in real time during the election.

The company previously managed Comelec’s National Technical Support Center during the 2022 and 2025 national elections.

Meanwhile, security preparations expanded with the deployment of additional police forces to the region.

Police Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., regional director of Police Regional Office 10, instructed 901 officers deployed to Lanao del Sur to strictly enforce election laws.

Police Col. Benbo Jumalon turned over the deployment to Police Col. Caezar Cabuhat, provincial director of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office. Babagay noted that 380 of the deployed officers will serve directly as Electoral Board members during the 10-day assignment.