The Philippine National Police said that BARMM has the second-highest number of election-related incidents, with eight cases recorded, [22] while COMELEC designated 90% of the region's municipalities and cities as areas of concern. [23] In April 2025, more than 400 soldiers were redeployed from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Lanao del Sur to enhance security in the province following incidents of violence. [24] In Lanao del Sur and Basilan, 888 police officers were deputized as members of local Special Election Boards. [25] COMELEC also approved the holding of vote canvassing in Maguindanao del Sur to be held at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's Sixth Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. [26]
On October 8, 2024, clashes between supporters of rival politicians on the last day of candidate registration in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur left a barangay watchman dead and six people injured, one of them critically. [27] On October 19, a candidate for councilor in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, was shot dead in an ambush by unidentified suspects that also injured his wife. [28] On December 21, the provincial election supervisor of Sulu survived an ambush that killed his brother in Zamboanga City. [29] On December 25, a petitioner who complained about the presence of flying voters was shot dead in Pualas, Lanao del Sur. [30] A subsequent judicial investigation found that 1,750 names on the town's voter rolls were fraudulent. [31]
On January 18, 2025, a candidate for councilor in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, was shot dead in Midsayap, Cotabato. [32] On February 4, Anwar Saluwang, the mayor of Nabalawag in the Special Geographic Area of Cotabato, was arrested in Davao City for violating the nationwide gun ban imposed as part of the election. [33] On February 11, a vice mayoral candidate of Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, survived an ambush on his vehicle. [34] On February 24, Omar Samama, the reelectionist vice mayor of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, was shot and injured while speaking at an event. [35] On March 26, the COMELEC officer for Datu Odin Sinsuat was killed in an ambush along with her husband, [36] prompting COMELEC to place the municipality under its control on April 4. [37]
On April 13, Datu Omar Baba, a reelectionist candidate for the provincial board of Maguindanao del Sur was injured along with his driver in an ambush in Datu Anggal Midtimbang. [38] On April 15, the town of Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur was placed under COMELEC control due to continuing violence, [39] including an incident where grenades were thrown at the municipal hall. [40] On May 4, a grenade attack was carried out on the residence in Buluan of Maguindanao del Sur vice gubernatorial candidate Hisham Nando, who was campaigning elsewhere at the time. [41] On May 10, a candidate for councilor and a student died in a clash in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur. [42] On May 11, four people were killed in clashes between supporters of rival mayoral candidates in Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan, [43] while four others were injured in a shootout between supporters of rival political parties in Cotabato City. [44]
On polling day, clashes broke out in Marawi between supporters of rival candidates, while a poll watcher poured water on a vote-counting machine. [45] Voting was delayed in Datu Odin Sinsuat after voters protested against the local election boards and barricaded the municipal hall. [46] Two people, a councilor candidate and his sibling, an incumbent barangay chairman were killed in Bayang, Lanao del Sur. [47] Three supporters of a mayoral candidate in Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, were killed in a shootout with police. [48]
On May 28, a newly elected councilor of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur was shot dead near his residence. [49]
