GARCIA (FB)
Although there is no redistricting law yet for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) on March 30, 2026.
In its Resolution No. 11181, the Comelec en banc issued the Calendar of Activities for next year’s BPE, which includes the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC), election, and campaign period.
It has scheduled the four-day filing of the COCs from Jan. 5 to 9. The last day of posting the list of candidates will be on Feb. 2.
The three-month election period is set from Jan. 29 to April 14, during which a gun ban will be implemented in the entire region.
The campaign period will be from Feb. 12 to March 28.
Since the BPE is automated, the final testing and sealing of the voting machines is set for March 27.
Meanwhile, those who will be running in the BPE have until April 29 to file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that they set the date for the holding of the BPE "on the assumption that there is a (redistricting) law."
Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) directed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to issue a new BARMM redistricting law by Oct. 30, 2025. It also directed the Comelec to proceed with the preparations and conduct the BPE not later than March 31, 2026.
The Comelec had earlier advised the BTA to come up with the new law on or before Nov. 30 to allow it enough time to prepare for the March 2026 polls.
As of Monday, however, the BTA has yet to approve such a law. (PNA)