The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has established a Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEC) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Comelec said in Resolution No. 10680 this was pursuant to Republic Act No. 11054 otherwise known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The poll body said the BEO was established by converting the Office of the Regional Election Director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
According to the Comelec, the BEO shall be under the supervision and control of the Commission and shall perform the functions of the Office of the Regional Election Director in the ARMM.
Pursuant to RA No. 11054, the Comelec said the BEO shall accredit regional political parties, as approved by the Commission, and register political parties with qualifications to be prescribed by the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
"For this purpose, the Bangsamoro Registration and Accreditation Committee (BRAC) of the BEO, composed of the Regional Election Director, Assistant Regional Election Director, and Provincial Election Supervisor of the Province of Maguindanao is hereby created," the Comelec said.
The Comelec said the BEO shall exercise administrative supervision and control over all offices of the Commission in the BARMM, including the Office of the Election Officer in Isabela City.
"Pending the enactment of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and for purposes of election administration, the 63 barangays in the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pilot, and Pigcawayan, all of North Cotabato, which voted for inclusion in the BARMM, shall still be considered part of the municipalities and province where they belong before the ratification of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," the Comelec said.
The Commission en banc approved the resolution on Oct. 7 during its online regular en banc meeting.