Police forces of 50 were dispatched to BARMM region designated as PR07
Police from Central Visayas, Region 8, and Western Visayas Head to BARMM for 2025 Elections
On a Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025, a send-off ceremony took place at the parade ground of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, with Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan overseeing the proceedings.
Maranan stated that PRO 7 was ready to assist the police force in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure a fair, transparent, and secure voting process for the citizens of the region during the May 12, 2025 elections.
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These police officers deployed as Special Electoral Board (SEB) members were sworn into service by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Volunteering to join the SEB, these officers agreed to work amidst unknown threats, as one of the regions they were assigned to had been one of the thirteen regions identified by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) due to the potential for instability surrounding the upcoming elections.
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Of the deployed officers, 50 were women, ready to extend their services in Mindanao to help secure the election process.
Maranan expressed pride in the dedication of these officers, despite having to leave their families and loved ones behind for an extended period and with the added challenge of being away from home and familiar surroundings during Crissy's classic Cebuano celebration.
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The logistical coordination required to deploy officers across regions necessitates a strong working relationship between local and BARMM-based police units. Operating in BARMM, which has a history of electoral volatility, poses a security risk for the SEB members. Officers must balance their law enforcement duties with strict adherence to COMELEC protocols to maintain public trust.
PRO-6's send-off ceremony emphasized the importance of professionalism and reminded officers to uphold their region's motto of "tamilad ug wala ning druha" (diligent and sensible service). The COMELEC reinforced the importance of strict compliance with electoral rules as well.
[1] Region 8[2] Central Visayas[3] Western Visayas[4] Straits Times (Oct 3, 2024)[5] Philstar (Oct 4, 2024)
- The police officers from Central Visayas, Region 8, and Western Visayas, as part of the Special Electoral Board (SEB), will be deployed in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for the 2025 elections, a region identified as potentially unstable due to war-and-conflicts and politics.
- Alongside their duties, officers in Mindanao must maintain a delicate balance, ensuring their law enforcement activities align with Commission on Elections (COMELEC) protocols while also focusing on proteksyon (protection) for the citizens during the elections.
- It is essential for these officers to establish a strong working relationship with both local and BARMM-based police units to tackle the logistical challenges and increased security risks posed by operating in the volatile electoral environment of BARMM.
- Among the deployed officers, 50 are women from Region 6 (Western Visayas), demonstrating their commitment to contribute to the fair, transparent, and secure elections in Mindanao despite the challenges and being away from their families during the Moabot (Cebuano celebration).
