MARAWI CITY (PIA)--The Bangsamoro government underscored the significance of community involvement, cooperation, and vigilance to guarantee a successful and incident-free electoral process for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) polls in October.

Lawyer Al-Rashid Balt, director general of the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), shared that their Ministry is spearheading a Community-Driven Safety Security program as an intervention to prevent, monitor, and report election-related violence for the upcoming BSK elections.

Balt pointed out that the success of the Ministry's interventions during the 2022 elections encouraged them to sustain this initiative for next month's elections.

“We are planning to engage in the same intervention, but we are planning na mas malaki ang ma-cover natin; kasi dati, mga target hotspot municipalities lang sa isang province, but now since barangay elections s’ya, expected na, ‘wag sanang mangyari, mas maraming potential na conflict, [kasi] expected na mas maraming magkakalaban [na kandidato] ngayon,” Balt stated.

He also called on the general public to cooperate in preventing BSK-related feuds and report any incidents to law enforcement authorities. 

He further reminded BSK candidates, along with their families and supporters, that part of their legitimacy as leaders is to be elected through 'peaceful' means.

“After all, ginawa yung eleksyon hindi para makipag-away kundi para bigyan ng opportunity ang mga tao na pumili nang kung sinong gusto nilang mag-lead sa kanila,” Balt stressed.

Balt emphasized that the October BSK elections need the utmost attention not only from the BARMM Government but also from law enforcement authorities, stakeholders, and the general public to avoid election-related violence.

Likewise, upholding and improving peace, justice, and security across the BARMM is part of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda. (BIO/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)