Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cancelled the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the March 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE), originally scheduled for early next year.

According to Philippines News Agency, the commission en banc made this decision through Comelec Resolution No. 11183, opting not to proceed with the four-day COC filing period that was set for January. The resolution states, "The Commission hereby resolves to suspend the Jan. 5 to 9, 2026 period of filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2026 BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Parliamentary Elections."

The resolution further clarifies that the Comelec will "fix the filing of the certificates of candidacy in due time after the enactment of the parliamentary districting by the BTA." The decision to cancel the COC filing stems from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's (BTA) delay in passing a redistricting law in the BARMM.

The Supreme Court (SC) had previously instructed the BTA to pass the new law by Oct. 30, 2025, to ensure the BPE could be held no later than March 31, 2026. Comelec had earlier issued Resolution No. 11181, setting the BPE date for March 30, 2026, under the assumption that the BTA would pass the necessary parliamentary redistricting law on time.