Cotabato city: Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the legislative body of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), have begun planning security measures to ensure that the first-ever regional parliamentary polls on September 14 proceed peacefully and credibly. Member of Parliament (MP) Butch Malang, chairperson of the BTA Committee on Public Order and Safety (CPOS), announced the initiative on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, MP Butch Malang has scheduled a joint meeting with the BTA Committee on Local Government (CLG) to address security preparations. "There is a need to closely monitor preparations and align efforts among agencies responsible for maintaining peace and order," Malang stated following a committee meeting. The CPOS is also set to meet with officials from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) and the Army's 6th Infantry Division, headed by Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara, along with the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) under Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran.

Among the potential strategies under consideration by the BTA is the deployment of additional police in areas that have historically experienced challenges during elections. Malang noted that he witnessed the security forces effectively securing the balloting during the May 2025 local and national elections in the BARMM, which proceeded peacefully in many areas.

In addition, Malang's committee is scheduled to meet with Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia to help map out plans for securing the upcoming regional balloting and preserving the sanctity of the Bangsamoro vote. Earlier, Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua emphasized the regional government's determination to ensure that the first-ever election in BARMM is peaceful, orderly, and credible, stating, "because the world is watching."