Ahead of polls, military deploys 1,500 more Army, Marine troops to BARMM

MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR, Philippines – The military has deployed about 1,500 more soldiers to key areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure peaceful and credible midterm elections. 

The troops, representing three battalions from different regions of the country, were sent to tighten security in the two Maguindanao provinces, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, and the BARMM’s Special Geographic Area, a territory carved out of the Soccsksargen region.

The move came following the Commission on Elections’s (Comelec) decision to place two BARMM towns under its direct control while it flagged more than 100 areas for security risks.

The battalions, consisting of Marines and Army units, will support Task Force Central and local police forces.

“We believe that what we have provided here is sufficient enough for the area to join Task Force Central, along with the additional deployment in collaboration with the police forces,” said Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, on Saturday, April 26.

The announcement came days after the military deployed additional forces to Basilan to bolster security ahead of the May elections. The troops from the 113th Division Reconnaissance Company were assigned to conduct intelligence and reconnaissance operations in various places in Basilan based on election-related concerns.

Some 109 areas in the BARMM were flagged for security concerns, with 30 marked high-risk, including 20 in Lanao del Sur, nine in Maguindanao del Sur, and one in Basilan, as of March 29. 

Nafarrete’s announcement of the latest military deployment came during the surrender of a cache of high-powered firearms in Maguindanao del Sur. 

The surrender included two .50 caliber machine guns, a 57 mm shoulder-fired anti-tank recoilless rifle, and 37 other rifles. The turnover was facilitated by Joint Task Force Central at the 601st Brigade Headquarters in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan.

Local leaders handed over the weapons, with Major General Donald Gumiran calling the event a “milestone” in reducing threats from violent elements.

Nafarrete, “We should always bear in mind that peace is not given – peace is chosen. Today, by your gesture, you have chosen peace.”

Brigadier General Edgar Catu, commander of the 601st Brigade, expressed confidence that ongoing peace efforts would reduce election-related violence ahead of the May 12 polls. 

“We see now that violent incidents have declined. We just have to continue dialogues with the local commanders and be proactive,” he said.

Nafarrete also downplayed a controversy surrounding Abdullah Macapaar, a Bangsamoro Parliament member and MILF base commander, who was supposedly misquoted as encouraging uprisings in the event of electoral defeat. 

“I think he was just misquoted. He has a signed statement. He clarified his statement,” Nafarrete said.

Macapaar clarified, “My words were not meant to incite fear, but to underscore the importance of integrity in our new democratic journey.” He emphasized that the MILF’s stance remains committed to peace, democratic engagement, and the rule of law.

BARMM interim Chief Minister Abduralraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua reaffirmed the MILF’s commitment to peaceful elections and urged all candidates and supporters to respect the people’s will. 

“The MILF remains committed to supporting peaceful, honest, and credible elections,” Macacua said.

Nafarrete has also announced a partnership with the MILF and other groups through a memorandum of understanding to integrate them into the election monitoring process. 

“This mechanism will allow us to monitor movements and closely coordinate our communications and concerns,” Nafarrete said. – Rappler.com