MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recommended to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to relieve three of its top officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the recommendation was made by commissioner Aimee Ferolino, chairperson of the poll body’s Gun Ban and Security Concerns Committee.

This was adopted by the commission’s en banc during its session on Tuesday.

“May nirecommend yung aming committee na pinapa-relieve yung ilang miyembro ng Philippine National Police dun sa area…titingnan natin kung ano ang response nung ating PNP sa rekomendasyon na yan,” Garcia told the media.

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Garcia explained that there is a need to change PNP leadership in the region.

“Base sa assessment ng committee, mukhang kakailanganin na magkaroon ng palitan. Maaari kasing hindi nakukuha ng committee yung gano’ng klase ng full cooperation, hindi nakukuha mismo ng committee yung expected output sa kilos ng opisyal ng Philippine National Police sa area,” said Garcia.

Commissioner Ferolino named the three BARMM-PNP officials as: PBGen. Romeo Macapaz, Police Regional Director, Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR); PCol. Eleuterio Ricardo Jr., Police Provincial Director of Maguindanao del Norte; and PCol. Ryan Bobby Paloma, Police Provincial Director of Maguindanao del Sur.

The poll body believes there is a failure on the part of the Bangsamoro police to act promptly on urgent security detail request of its field personnel, including the request made by Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao del Norte Election Officer Atty. Maceda Abo as early as January 8, 2025.

Abo and her husband Jojo died in an ambush while onboard their vehicle in Barangay Makir.