Comelec gearing up for BARMM polls in October
File photo shows the BARMM regional headquarters
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin preparing for the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections in October amid the pending decision of the parliament on the Sulu issue, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Thursday.
The Bangsamoro parliament is expected to decide on the reapportionment or reallocation of seven seats originally dedicated to the Sulu province.
READ: Reallocation of Sulu seats in BARMM should be clear by end-May
“On what they will do with the seven [seats], it’s up to the Bangsamoro (parliament,)” Garcia said in a forum organized by Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, we will prepare for the 73 seats because if we delay our preparations to wait for the decision of 80 seats, we might fall short on preparations,” he added.
The elections were set to fill 80 seats in the parliament.
Only 73 seats are up currently at stake since Sulu province, which had seven seats, was excluded from the region.
The Supreme Court granted Sulu’s petition to be excluded from the region after the province rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in a plebiscite.
“We can’t wait forever… If the commission can stretch it, maybe we can wait [for the decision] until the first week of June,” said Garcia.
When asked what the poll body will do if the Bangsamoro parliament releases a decision on the reallocation of the seats in the middle of their preparations, Garcia said that they will not reopen the filing of candidacy for the 73 seats.
“If it becomes 80, there will be changes because we will open the candidacy in areas that will be affected by the reapportionment or reallocation of the parliamentary seats.”
READ: Reforms eyed for BARMM polls amid lessons from midterms
Poll preparations
Garcia said that the Comelec was only given five months to prepare for the elections.
The parliamentary elections were supposed to be held simultaneously with the 2025 midterm elections, but were postponed to October 13, 2025.
Garcia added that as the elections will be automated, the Comelec will conduct new source code review and other tests.
“We will have different tests because there are new changes in the ballots such as inclusion of photos of candidates, logo of political parties, and the “none of the above” options for voters.”
He also shared that the Comelec will conduct a month-long voter education drive in the region.
He also mentioned that the recently-concluded elections, clan wars, presence of private armed groups, and firearms in the region may affect the conduct of the parliamentary elections.
“Hanggat andyan yan, maaaring maging source ng violence. Ang dapat na approach ng Comelec ay mapinpoint alin sa sources na yun ang talagang pwedeng pagmulan ng kaguluhan,” Garcia added.
“As long as these things are there, they can be a source of violence. The Comelec should be able to pinpoint which among these sources can be the root of violence.”
