Manila, Sept. 10 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday that 12 municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are under the "red category" of the areas of concern.

"We have a red category area in Basilan, the municipality of Al Barka, and six in Lanao del Sur," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview more than a month ahead of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections set for Oct. 13.

"There are also about five municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur in the red category."

The "red" category is the highest of the four categories of the areas of concern.

Garcia, however, maintained that there is no cause for alarm in the region's security situation.

"In fact, so far, the peace ...