A bullet cannot answer what a ballot can do

Elections should bring peace and fairness for the greater good. Ballots bring justice and righteousness, something bullets cannot do. 

The BARMM elections are set for September 14, 2026, and will be the first parliamentary election in BARMM history. However, it is expected that peace dividers will have a way to disturb peace before and during the elections, which is condemned by its leaders. Despite the promising proposals and the security measures to maintain peace and the legitimacy of the process, it still remains in the shadows. 

The elections are still ongoing, aside from the incidents that already happened before and during the election earlier. It raises the question of competence to even have its own government despite the unpredictable violence that may occur from extremists. Therefore, having ballots can be a struggle, but is Bangsamoro capable and resilient enough to self-govern despite the attacks and attempted sabotage of the elections?

Talking about encounters, incidents linked to extremist groups increased to 91% in 2025: from 23 in 2024 to 44 in 2025. It is a pattern, not an isolated incident, but a violent one that challenges the legitimacy of the process while also threatening the lives of the communities and innocent people. The cycle did not end; it was simply forming a pattern to show the persistence of what they want, and violence is their answer to that.

The surge did not stop during the last few years. Even though the Philippine military claimed that large extremist groups have been neutralized, it is still there. Violence before and during the elections happened despite the efforts of security and the COMELEC. It is futile even to imagine that these elections will be successful, but it continues- more like walking in a minefield.

Aside from gun violence and attacks, there is also an incident where pre-shaded ballots halted the election for the first day in Basilan. This is a typical response to a sabotage attempt driven by selfish motives like power and money. It raises the question: what is the point 3v of elections if these people oppose democracy in BARMM? 

A gun ban was even in place from July 16, 2026, until September 29, 2026. By August, around 15 individuals were arrested at different police checkpoints and other extensive security measures. Chief Minister Macacua was threatened by unknown assailants in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. No injuries or casualties were recorded; it says a lot about the harmful environment where threats were camouflaged under the noses of the authorities, which seems to make the elections impossible. 

Despite the posing threats such as the attack on a high-ranking official, misinformation, coercion, and security concerns. The fact that the elections persisted is a start-up win for the communities of Bangsamoro as of now. There are two million registered voters who are willing to go through the process of peace, and the polls can be monitored online through COMELEC’s website; it doesn’t seem impossible at all if people persist in voting and will trust the system and its legitimacy rather than handling arms and causing chaos.

Keeping an election’s integrity and the safety of its voters is a task that requires patience and caution. Democracy is not dead in this region; it is only struggling. The BARMM elections shall maintain integrity while maintaining the safety of its voters and personnel.