Comelec wraps up COC, CAN filing for first BARMM parliamentary polls

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia —INQUIRER.net/Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday wrapped up the filing of certificates of candidacies and certificates of acceptance of nomination for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary polls.

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, 109 aspirants formalized their bids for the parliamentary elections.

Of this figure, five came from the Special Geographical Area, 14 from Basilan, 41 from Lanao del Sur, 24 from Maguindanao del Norte, and 15 from Maguindanao del Sur.

Garcia also added that the following regional parliamentary parties filed their CANs: Moro Ako, Progresibong Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Party, Mahardika, and United Bangsamoro Justice Party, BARMM Grand Coalition, Raayat, and 1-ASC.

READ: MILF’s political party files bid for BARMM parliamentary elections

When asked about the safety and security status during the filing period, Garcia told the media through a Viber message that it was “very peaceful and orderly.”

READ: Bill seeking to postpone BARMM parliamentary polls filed at Senate

About 65 seats are up for grabs for the upcoming autonomous polls, of which 25 are allotted for parliamentary district representatives.

The rest of 40 seats are reserved for regional parliamentary political parties, which is similar to the party-list system.

Amid calls to postpone the parliamentary polls, Garcia previously said that “preparations will continue and only congressional action can stop us from preparing for the regional polls.”

Senate President Chiz Escudero who filed Senate Bill 2862, or the act to defer the elections, on Monday said that he is proposing to move the parliamentary elections from May 12, 2025 to May 11, 2026 mainly due to the Supreme Court ruling that excludes Sulu province from BARMM.