The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it will ask the Senate to set the date for the conduct of the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE).
According to Comelec Chairperson George Garcia, they will also be asking the senators to look at their recommendations in case the BPE, which has been set for March 30 this year, does not push through.
“So we will likewise be giving the same copy of the draft bill to our Senate, maybe they can also consider it,” he said in a media interview.
On Monday, Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri filed a measure proposing to hold the BPE to March this year.
Senate Bill No. 1587 seeks to amend Section 13, Article XVI of RA 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and reset the BARMM elections to March 30, 2026, with the elected officials’ terms of office commencing at noon on April 30 following their election.
“Majority leader Zubiri was the first to file a bill. Although it is subject to debate and amendments,” the poll body chief added.
Garcia noted that they will include in their proposal regarding the system, among others.
“We will incorporate the system, equipment, and it should be treated as a special election so that voters can vote at the time of the election,” he said.
In their proposal submitted to the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, the Commission is pushing for the BPE to be held either in May or in late September or early October this year.
Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to pass a new BARMM districting 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.
On Jan. 13, the BTA approved Parliament Bill No. 415, which is the districting law that redefines the 32 parliamentary districts of the BARMM. (PNA)