Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging lawmakers to enact a new law to establish a definitive date for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE). During an interview at the Comelec main office, Chairperson George Garcia emphasized the necessity of a legislative measure to reschedule the inaugural BPE.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chairperson Garcia highlighted the Supreme Court's (SC) decision, which set the election date as March 31, conflicting with Republic Act No. 12123 that had postponed the elections from May 12 to October 13. He pointed out the potential legal violation if the March 31 elections do not proceed as planned, suggesting the law might need amending to solidify the election date.
Garcia also expressed concerns about the lack of a new districting law from the Bangsamoro Parliament for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Comelec is anxious about meeting deadlines set by the SC and its own timeline, with the SC's deadline being October 30 and Comelec's being November 30 for the redistricting law.
The SC has instructed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to pass the BARMM districting law by October 30. Garcia affirmed Comelec's commitment to adhering to the SC's directives and stated that they are exploring possibilities to hold the election on March 30. The SC has mandated the Comelec to carry out preparations and conduct the BPE by March 31, 2026.
