MANILA, Philippines — Following the exclusion of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday decided to defer the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for BARMM’s first parliamentary elections.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body approved a resolution resetting the filing of COCs from October to November.
“The Comelec en banc decided to move the filing of COCs for the Bangsamoro elections, including the manifestation of intent to participate and the nominees of political parties,” Garcia said.
Instead of Oct. 1 to 8, the filing of COCs for the BARMM parliamentary elections will be from Nov. 4 to 9.
Garcia said the decision to postpone the COC filing was made after consultations with the regional director and senior staff of the Comelec.
He said other preparations for the BARMM elections would likely be delayed as a result of the postponement of the filing of COCs.
Garcia reiterated that the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will proceed as scheduled in May 2025.
He said the high tribunal did not declare the Bangsamoro Organic Law unconstitutional, but merely removed Sulu from the region.
With the exclusion of Sulu, Garcia said only 73 of the original 80 members of the parliament would be elected and 25 for parliamentary districts.
He said there is no need to pass a new law to authorize the Comelec to proceed with the elections.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, it is sufficient that all provinces in Bangsamoro, minus Sulu, are properly represented, unless there will be moves from Congress or from the Bangsamoro parliament,” he said.
Garcia said that in the meantime, the Comelec would continue the preparations in accordance with the number of remaining provinces and members of the parliament and sectoral organizations.
He gave assurance that the SC ruling would not affect the conduct of local elections in the BARMM.
Printing of ballots for the national and local elections can start, Garcia said.
He said candidates in the local elections in BARMM could also file their COCs from Oct. 1 to 8.