Police Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, leads the activation of the Special Rask Force-BARMM which will be tasked to secure the midterm elections in the region. (photo: APC-Wetern Mindanao)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated the Special Task Force-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (STF-BARMM) to maximize security and ensure immediate response amid the efforts to make the May 12 midterm elections peaceful and orderly in the region.
Police Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the task force will focus on early intervention and quick response to contain election-related violent incidents.
“The activation of STF-BARMM will pave the way for a series of active groundwork, planning, simulation exercises and coordinating conferences to fine-tune all law enforcement actions,” said Banac who also heads the task force.
“With a supportive national leadership and with the cooperation of BARMM communities, we are confident that we shall accomplish our mission according to our projected scenario o a secure fair, and orderly electoral exercise in May,” he added.
Aside from the police forces, the task force will be augmented by personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)—all under the supervision of the Commission on Elections.
Contingents from the police, military and the Coast Guard stand in formation durign the activation of STF-BARMM. (photo: APC-Western Mindanao)
BARMM has been the site of violent incidents in the past elections and as early as last year, a non-government organization, the Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA), has been raising the alarm bells on increasing violent incidents.
In the latest CCAA report, it said the gun-related violence in BARMM surged in the 2021 to 2023 period due to the increase in the clashes between feuding clans, factions within the MILF and between government troops and extremist groups.
It said 2024 marked the biggest increase in violent conflict since the 2017 Marawi City siege with 2,951 monitored conflicts which is higher compared to 2,475 incidents reported in 2023.
The group also monitored28 cases of active feuding clans, 13 of them were traced to having an involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The CCCA is calling for an impartial implementation of gun ban—to include MILF—and the conduct of more peace covenants among the warring clans.
Banac said the activation of the STF-BARMM comes in the heels of the recent political candidates’ forum and peace covenant signing which was attended by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
“Common among the peace initiatives is the inter-agency commitment towards secure and fair elections by promoting equality, accountability, cooperation, empowerment for unity and lasting peace,” said Banac.
“We cannot fail our leaders and our people,” he stressed.