Comelec commits to conduct BARMM polls before SC-set deadline

The Commission on Elections leads the dialogue with leaders of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, House and Senate committees on suffrage and local governments, OPAPRU, OSAP, the Office of the Solicitor General, security sector, and representatives of regional political parties in Paranaque City on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. INQUIRER.net / MARY JOY SALCEDO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is committing to its goal to conduct the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections before the March 21, 2026, deadline that the Supreme Court (SC) recently set.

Comelec chair George Garcia said this in an interview with reporters after conducting its second dialogue with leaders of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), House and Senate Committees on Suffrage and Local Governments, OPAPRU, OSAP, the Office of the Solicitor General, the security sector, and representatives of regional political parties.

“In the meantime, our timeline is March 31. March 31 is the Comelec’s timeline, and therefore, as far as the Comelec is concerned, we will proceed with the election,” Garcia said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“That is everyone’s hope (BARMM elections no later than March 31). And that is the Comelec’s commitment. Because, of course, we told the Supreme Court, we will comply with the directive of the Supreme Court,” he likewise said.

Last October 1, the SC deferred the scheduled October 13, 2025, BARMM elections after it ruled that the redistricting law—Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77—and its predecessor, BAA 58, are both unconstitutional.

READ: Supreme Court pushes back BARMM parliamentary polls

BAA 77, also known as the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, refers to the law that redistributes the seven seats originally allocated to Sulu, while BAA 58 created the parliamentary districts in the region.

The SC said in its ruling that the BTA must determine the distribution of district parliamentary seats by October 30, while the Comelec should conduct the BARMM election no later than March 31, 2026.

‘Points considered’

According to Garcia, one of the important aspects that they aim to resolve is the BARMM parliament’s enacting of a new districting law for the seven seats originally for Sulu.

“Our compliance is anchored in the actions of our Parliament. With all due respect, we cannot enforce any law without the law,” Garcia said speaking in Filipino.

“Earlier, it emerged from the discussion that the Parliament may not be able to act immediately if our Congress does not act. So, of course for now, Congress has not taken any action on this matter. The only thing that is likely is that it should really come first,” he pointed out.

“What is the plan of our honorable Congress regarding actually fixing the dates, regarding actually conducting the elections in the Bangsamoro? So it is quite complicated and we do not want that complication to be taught by various institutions… It should not be like that. The discussion here needs to be all-round. We have to coordinate because this is for peace talks. Eventually, we will be able to hold the elections,” he added in Filipino.

The Comelec chair likewise said that the BARMM parliament would also have to resolve the appointing of its new speaker after Speaker Pangalian Balindong died on October 2.

READ: BARMM Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong dies at 85

Nonetheless, the poll body’s chair guaranteed the people of Bangsamoro that they will commit to attain the March 21 mark by the SC in conducting the BARMM elections.

He likewise said that they are set to conduct another dialogue to fast-track the process of the elections, adding that he wanted the next of it to take place in a province in Bangsamoro so that its citizens can personally observe what will be agreed upon.

“The discussion should be below so that our colleagues there, our Moro brothers and sisters, and even the local media can hear it,” said Garcia. /jpv