Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced the scheduling of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) for March 30, 2026, despite the absence of a redistricting law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec has released Resolution No. 11181, which outlines the Calendar of Activities for the upcoming BPE. Key activities include the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) from January 5 to 9 and the posting of the candidate list by February 2. The election period will last from January 29 to April 14, during which a gun ban will be enforced region-wide. Candidates will campaign from February 12 to March 28, with final testing and sealing of voting machines scheduled for March 27. Candidates must file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) by April 29.

In a recent telephone interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated that the BPE date was set "on the assumption that there is a (redistricting) law." The Supreme Court has previously instructed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to implement a new BARMM redistricting law by October 30, 2025, and directed Comelec to conduct the elections by March 31, 2026. Comelec has advised the BTA to establish the new law by November 30 to allow sufficient preparation time for the elections. However, the BTA has not yet approved the necessary law.