ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The national government faces a major security test ahead of the historic parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placing many of the region’s local administrative units under security watch categories.

Comelec has identified nearly 100 election areas of concern across the region, based on data released as of July 29. Of these, 26 are classified as red, 23 as orange and 41 as yellow, while 18 are classified as green.

The red areas face serious armed threats combined with a history of election-related incidents; the orange areas face serious armed threats; the yellow areas have a history of election-related incidents; and the green areas have no identified security concerns requiring special monitoring.

Comelec said preparations for the inaugural parliamentary elections had reached 95% completion as of August 5, as election officials intensified voter education and security preparations across the region.

Frances Andrea Alonzo, Comelec supervising information officer and acting chief of the Commission’s Social Media Division, presented electoral data, security classifications and voter education initiatives during a media orientation in Zamboanga City jointly organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Comelec.

Based on Comelec data in a June 2 memorandum, the September 14 elections cover five provinces and one independent city, with 2,393,202 registered voters, 32 parliamentary districts, 108 municipalities, 2,185 barangays and 14,605 established precincts.

Comelec will establish 14,605 precincts, including 5,212 clustered precincts, across about 1,186 voting centers.

A total of 145 candidates will contest 80 seats in the Bangsamoro parliament, a key component of the region’s political transition under the peace process.

The security classifications cover areas across the mainland and island provinces, as well as the Special Geographic Areas of BARMM. The areas classified are as follows:

Lanao del Sur

Red

• Bayang
• Binidayan
• Butig
• Ganassi
• Kapai
• Lumbaca Unayan
• Lumbatan
• Lumbayanague
• Marantao
• Marogong
• Masiu
• Mulondo
• Pagayawan
• Piagapo
• Poona Bayabao
• Pualas
• Saguiaran
• Sultan Dumalondong
• Tamparan
• Taraka
• Tubaran

Orange

• Balabagan
• Calanogas
• Kapatagan
• Malabang
• Picong

Yellow

• Bacolod
• Kalawi
• Balindong
• Buadiposo-Buntong
• Bubong
• Bumbaran
• Ditsaan Ramain
• Lumba Bayabao
• Madalum
• Madamba
• Maguing
• Marawi City
• Tagoloan
• Tugaya
• Wao

Green

• None

Basilan

Red

• Al-Barka

Orange

• Tipo-Tipo
• Lamitan City

Yellow

• Hadji Muhtamad
• Lantawan
• Maluso
• Tabuan Lasa
• Tuburan

Green

• Akbar
• Hadji Mohammad Ajul
• Sumisip
• Ungkaya Pukan

Maguindanao del Norte

Red

• Datu Odin Sinsuat

Orange

• Talitay
• Cotabato City

Yellow

• Barira
• Buldon
• Kabuntalan
• Matanog
• Northern Kabuntalan
• Sultan Kudarat
• Sultan Mastura
• Upi

Green

• Datu Blah Sinsuat
• Parang

Maguindanao del Sur

Red

• Datu Piang
• Shariff Saydona Mustapha

Orange

• Ampatuan
• Buluan
• Datu Hoffer Ampatuan
• Datu Paglas
• Datu Salibo
• Datu Unsay
• General S.K. Pendatun
• Mamasapano
• Pagalungan
• South Upi

Yellow

• Datu Abdullah Sangki
• Datu Anggal Midtimbang
• Datu Saudi Ampatuan
• Guindulungan
• Matalamatu
• Paglat
• Pandag
• Rajah Buayan
• Shariff Aguak
• Sultan sa Barongis
• Talayan

Green

• Pagagawan

Tawi-Tawi

Tawi-Tawi has no areas classified as red, orange or yellow. All 11 of its municipalities are classified as green:

Green

• Bongao
• Languyan
• Mapun
• Panglima Sugala
• Sapa-Sapa
• Sibutu
• Simunul
• Sitangkai
• South Ubian
• Tandubas
• Turtle Islands

Special Geographic Areas

The Special Geographic Areas comprise communities that were formerly part of Cotabato province in the Soccsksargen region and voted in 2019 to join the BARMM.

Red

• Tugunan

Orange

• Kadayangan
• Nabalawag
• Pahamuddin

Yellow

• Kapalawan
• Ligawasan
• Malidegao
• Old Kaabakan

Green

• None

Security preparations

Alonzo said many red-flagged areas reflect historical tensions rather than active armed conflict on the ground, adding that the true test would come on September 14.

The security classifications come as authorities step up preparations to secure the first parliamentary elections in the region.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed more than 8,000 personnel to the region, combining local forces from the Police Regional Office-BARMM with tactical augmentation units and national support groups.

The police are operating along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has mobilized five regional joint task forces, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as law enforcement agencies carry out a coordinated security plan.

Among the key measures for the polls is a gun ban in effect from July 16 through September 29, along with round-the-clock checkpoints and heightened police visibility along major thoroughfares to dismantle private armed groups (PAGs) and intercept loose firearms.

Security forces are prioritizing high-risk red and orange areas, particularly flashpoints in Lanao del Sur and the Maguindanao provinces, to prevent political harassment and voter intimidation.

Coast Guard and naval assets have also been deployed across regional waterways and coastal channels to prevent armed groups or other unauthorized elements from exploiting porous island borders during the electoral period.

With nearly 2.4 million voters expected to cast ballots, Comelec is also conducting voter education campaigns and roadshows across the region to familiarize voters with the parliamentary voting structure, candidate platforms and polling procedures. – Rappler.com