By Benjamin Cuaresma
COTABATO CITY — Candidates and their supporters in Maguindanao del Norte have been reminded to leave polling centers immediately after casting their ballots as election authorities tighten rules ahead of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).
Lawyer Renault Macarambon, the newly assigned Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) of Maguindanao del Norte, issued the reminder Monday, emphasizing that only authorized election personnel, accredited watchers, election watchdogs and voters should remain inside voting centers during the balloting.
“Only Commission on Elections (Comelec) personnel, duly accredited watchers, election watchdogs and voters should remain inside voting centers during the casting of votes,” Macarambon said.
The directive is anchored on Section 193 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, or the Omnibus Election Code, which requires voters to leave the polling place after completing the voting process.
Macarambon said police personnel have also been instructed to direct politicians who remain in the vicinity of polling centers after voting to leave the area.
The directive marks Macarambon’s first appeal to candidates and their supporters in Maguindanao del Norte, one of the five component provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
He issued a similar reminder to voters and candidates in Lanao del Sur on Sept. 4, his final day as the province’s PES before assuming his new post in Maguindanao del Norte.
The Commission on Elections earlier announced the reshuffling of Macarambon and former Maguindanao del Norte PES Mohammad Nabil Mutia as part of preparations for the regional elections.
The election directive comes as government agencies and security forces strengthen coordination less than a week before the BPE.
Security agencies and other stakeholders met Sept. 5 at the Provincial Capitol in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, for the final Provincial Joint Security Control Center Coordinating Conference.
Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and head of Joint Task Force Central, called for closer interagency coordination, clearly defined responsibilities and synchronized security measures ahead of the polls.
The conference reaffirmed the responsibility of government agencies, security forces and other stakeholders to protect voters, maintain peace and order, and safeguard the integrity of the elections.
Bunayog said election security preparations are ultimately aimed at ensuring that voters can exercise their rights without threats or interference.
“Every Bangsamoro voter must be able to cast their ballot freely, safely, and without fear, intimidation, or undue influence,” he said.
He also stressed that public confidence will be crucial to the credibility of the electoral process, citing coordination, accurate information, and unified efforts to address election-related concerns and misinformation.
The Sept. 14 BPE will mark a major electoral exercise in the BARMM, with authorities now moving into the final phase of preparations to ensure an orderly and secure vote.
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