Cotabato City and Maluso, Basilan was placed under the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) control on 14 September 2026, during the historic first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to violence and compromised ballots.

According to COMELEC Chairman George Garcia, these recent events of violence include shooting and explosions that killed three people and injured 15 more have placed Cotabato City under their control.

Meanwhile, Garcia said that they placed Maluso, Balusan after determining that 16,563 ballots from 36 of the 68 precincts were compromised, showing signs of pre-shading. The official has ordered the reprinting of ballots for the precincts with compromised ballots.

Despite the reprinting, Garcia said that the only those areas with compromised ballots will be delayed as these ballots will be coming from the National Printing Office in Manila to Zamboanga, before it is transported to Basilan.