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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 561 elite Army troops sent to BARMM for parliamentary polls

561 elite Army troops sent to BARMM for parliamentary polls

Published Aug 11, 2026 04:56 pm

At A Glance

  • Elite members of the Philippine Army have been deployed to Maguindanao to help secure the Sept. 14 BARMM parliamentary elections and protect voters from threats and intimidation.
  • Led by Lt. Col. Anacito C. Naz, the "Task Force 92" includes infantry, intelligence, mortar, EOD, K9, civil-military operations, combat engineer, and sustainment personnel.
  • The troops will provide election security, engage communities, and coordinate with partner agencies while observing professionalism, human rights, and strict nonpartisanship, according to the Army.
⁨Members of the Task Force 92 stand in formation during their send-off ceremony in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on August 5, 2026.⁩ (Photo: Philippine Army)
⁨Members of the Task Force 92 stand in formation during their send-off ceremony in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on August 5, 2026.⁩ (Photo: Philippine Army)
A 561-member task force of the Philippine Army (PA) has been deployed to Maguindanao to help secure the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and protect voters from threats and intimidation, it was revealed on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT), the Army's premier combined arms unit, deployed “Task Force 92” during a send-off ceremony at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija last Aug. 5.
“The deployment reflects the Philippine Army's firm commitment to maintaining peace and order in the historic BARMM parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026,” Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
The unit will initially operate within the area of responsibility of the 602nd Infantry Brigade under the 6th Infantry Division (6ID), covering portions of Maguindanao, the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area (SGA), and North Cotabato.
Headed by Lt. Col. Anacito C. Naz, the task force includes infantry, military intelligence, mortar, explosive ordnance disposal, K9, civil-military operations, combat engineer, and sustainment units.
Dema-ala said the task force was organized as a combined arms unit from the attached units of the 1BCT.
Aside from security operations, the task force will also conduct community engagement activities and coordinate with government and other partner agencies. Its mission is to help ensure that voters in the BARMM can exercise their right to vote freely and safely, Dema-ala stressed.
At the send-off ceremony, 1BCT commander Brig. Gen. Von Albert M. Sumergido reminded the troops, known as Aegis troopers, to observe professionalism, discipline and integrity during their mission.
He also stressed respect for human rights and the need to remain strictly nonpartisan.
The commander told the troops to uphold the highest standards in carrying out their duties, particularly as they operate in communities where voters are expected to exercise their political rights.
Prior to the Task Force 92's deployment, the Army had said that at least 1,500 additional troops had been mobilized to BARMM to strengthen security and enforce the election gun ban ahead of the region's first parliamentary elections.
The Army said it has not monitored any election-related incidents so far despite reports by a conflict monitoring group of more than 600 violent incidents in BARMM during the campaign period.
Read: PH Army reinforces BARMM with at least 1,500 troops ahead of Sept. 14 polls

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Philippine Army Task Force 92 BARMM parliamentary elections
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