Government agencies and civil society groups in Northern Mindanao have pledged to pool resources to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.

The solidarity pledge, hosted by the Police Regional Office (PRO-10) on Wednesday, was joined by the Commission on Elections in Northern Mindanao (Comelec-10) and other stakeholders.

Comelec-10 Assistant Director Maria Dulce Cuevas-Banzon emphasized the importance of holding free, credible, and well-organized elections, noting that this will be the first parliamentary election in BARMM’s history.

“We are thankful for the help of our law enforcement personnel because we will no longer have problems with the security of our personnel and the security of our (counting) machines and equipment,” she said.

The BARMM parliamentary elections are set to coincide with the national and local elections on May 12, 2025. However, a bill seeking to postpone the polls, certified as urgent by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is pending in Congress.

Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, PRO-10 director, stressed the significance of inter-agency collaboration.

“Let us stand united in securing the 2025 midterm polls and the BARMM parliamentary elections, ensuring peaceful, orderly, and honest elections,” he said.

Other agencies participating in the pledge include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, Department of Education, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Civil society groups, such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, and religious organizations, also joined the initiative. (PNA)