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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider ‎Comelec urged to lift limit on nominees in settler communities sector in Bangsamoro polls

‎Comelec urged to lift limit on nominees in settler communities sector in Bangsamoro polls

Published Apr 21, 2026 11:20 am
‎DAVAO CITY – An independent election watchdog urged the Commission on Elections to allow two nominees for every organization and parties in the settler communities sector in the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections in September.
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‎The Independent Election Monitoring Center (IEMC)  in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)  appealed to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia  to reconsider their rule that limits   accredited sectoral organizations and political party wings to only one nominee in the settler communities sector.
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‎IEMC Convenor lawyer Benedicto Bacani warned that restricting organizations to a single candidate will undermine geographic representation of settler communities in island-provinces.
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‎Bacani said  that the limitation contradicts the spirit and intent of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that allocates two reserved seats for the settler communities sector in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
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‎He suggested that the poll body should allow organizations to nominate two candidates and ensure that the allocation of seats translates into meaningful and equitable representation.
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‎"IEMC respectfully urges the Commission to align its rules with the law and the intent of sectoral representation," Bacani said in a letter addressed to the Comelec.
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‎"Allowing two nominees per organization will promote broader and more inclusive representation of settler communities across the Bangsamoro region," he added.
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‎According to IEMC, the Comelec has allowed two nominees per organization.
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‎However,  the poll body reversed the guidance through subsequent resolutions, which created confusion and raised legal concerns.
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‎The  reversal has effectively disenfranchised second nominees whose names were initially expected to appear on the official ballot, IEMC lamented.
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‎Bacani emphasized that the  interpretation of Section 9 of Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BAA No. 88), which limits organizations to one nominee,  should apply only to sectors with a single reserved seat, not to the settler communities sector that is entitled to two.
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‎By restricting nominations to one candidate for every organization, Bacani said that it could undermine geographic representation within the sector. “In particular, it may lead to candidates being concentrated in more vote-rich mainland provinces, leaving settler communities in island provinces underrepresented.”
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‎IEMC is a collaborative initiative led by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Notre Dame University (NDU), Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. (NDBC), Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA), Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC).
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