Campaign, election period for 2025 BARMM polls still in effect
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday, Sept. 20, that the campaign and election periods for the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will not be lifted.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday, Sept. 20, that the campaign and election periods for the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will not be lifted.
Comelec office in Manila (Wikipedia)
This was stated in a memorandum issued by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia.
It also states that the processing of requests for authority in relation to specific election prohibitions shall continue, in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code, other applicable laws, and as implemented by Comelec Resolution No. 11156.
This despite the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court (SC) halting the implementation of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 that reorganized the parliamentary districts within BARMM.
BAA 77 reorganized the parliamentary districts within the BARMM to reallocate the seven seats initially assigned to the province of Sulu.
The SC had long ruled that the inclusion of the Province of Sulu in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is void for being unconstitutional. This decision necessitated the reapportionment of the seven district seats originally designated for Sulu.
The Comelec En Banc earlier decided to suspend its preparations for upcoming BARMM polls on Oct. 13.
With this new development, Garcia was asked if this means that the elections would push through or if it's pending until the SC's clarification.
"Pending pa din po (It’s still pending)," Garcia said.