Parang: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated the Special Task Force-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (STF-BARMM) to ensure peaceful and orderly midterm elections. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil stated that this initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to safeguard the electoral process and uphold democracy.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gen. Marbil emphasized that the core of these initiatives is a strong commitment to securing free and fair elections through inter-agency collaboration. He highlighted the joint efforts of stakeholders to foster equality, accountability, empowerment, and unity, thus ensuring that the people of BARMM can exercise their right to vote in an atmosphere of safety and transparency.

Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, detailed that the activation of STF-BARMM follows the Political Candidates Forum and Peace Covenant Signing held at the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Awang, Cotabato City on March 19. He stated that the STF-BARMM activation would continue with a series of active groundwork, planning, simulation exercises, and coordinating conferences to finetune all law enforcement actions.

With strong support from national leadership and cooperative BARMM communities, Banac expressed optimism, shared by counterparts in the Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine Coast Guard, that they would achieve their mission of a secure, fair, and orderly electoral exercise on May 12. "We cannot fail our leaders, and our people. Ladies and gentlemen, let us make this happen," Banac stated during the activation ceremony in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.