The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has raised legal and operational concerns over the feasibility of holding the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections on March 30, 2026, following the late passage of the Bangsamoro districting law.

"Sa kasalukuyan hindi pa kami nakakasigurado kung ang March 30 ay matutuloy sapagkat ang problema natin...paano at sino ang magfifix ng date ngayon ng bagong election. Hindi si Comelec ang nagfifix ng election, hindi rin Bangsamoro, ang ating kagalang-galang na Kongreso, ang nagfifix ng date sa isang halalan sa Pilipinas," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said during an interview with DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.

In a released statement on Wednesday, the Parliament passed the districting law through Parliament Bill No. 415, in the early morning of January 13, 2026, redrawing the region into 32 single-member parliamentary districts.

However, the measure still needs to be signed by the Chief Minister and must comply with publication requirements before it can take effect, accordiing to a report on Damdaming Bayan by Boy Gonzales.

The poll body said it expects the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) to have the force and effect of a valid law by the end of January or the first week of February 2026.

Meanwhile, Garcia acknowledged that the timing of the law’s passage has put the March 30 elections in doubt.

“We are now confronted with strong legal and operational issues as to whether the conduct of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election is still feasible by March 30, 2026. Since there is no law yet fixing the date of the election, at this point, the same is still a question mark,” Garcia said.

The uncertainty stems from a series of Supreme Court rulings affecting BARMM election laws.

In its ruling, the High Court emphasized the prohibition against redistricting within "120 days before an election," citing Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8189, which states that "no territory comprising an election precinct shall be altered, or a new precinct be established at the start of the election period"

"Ang 120 days ay isang batas, hindi 'yan prescribed lang ng Korte Suprema kung kaya po kapag kami naghold ng election sa March 30, lalabagin namin ang batas na iyon. Kaya po kami ay nasa masindhing problema kung dapat maituloy," Garcia said.

"Kahit naipasa nila noong isang araw hindi pa ito ganap na batas sapagkat ang sabi ng kanilang panukalang batas ito ay magiging epektibo lamang ng 5 araw pa pagkatapos ma-publish," he added.

Comelec explained that it had earlier fixed the election date on March 30, 2026, in compliance with the Supreme Court decision and based on the assumption that a valid redistricting law would be enacted by October 30, 2025. With the districting law only passed in January 2026, proceeding with the March elections would run afoul of the 120-day prohibition stressed by the Court.

Garcia also stressed that while Comelec implements election laws, it has no authority to legislate or set election dates.

“Nangangahulugan po pala hindi sapat na si Bangsamoro ay nagpasa lang ng atin pong bagong districting law,” Garcia said.

“Mukhang kakailanganin na ang Kongreso po natin ay magpasa ng batas upang baguhin yung umiiral na batas na ang eleksyon natin ay October 30 [2025]. Tatandaan niyo po: walang kapangyarihan si Bangsamoro. Walang kapangyarihan si COMELEC. And with all due respect, kahit po ang Korte Suprema, walang kapangyarihang mag-fix ng date ng isang eleksyon.... Maliwanag po ‘yan... in the Constitution... Only Congress... ang may kapangyarihang mag-fix ng date ng halalan,” he added.

On the final election date, Comelec assured the public that it will continue to engage all stakeholders and provide timely updates as developments unfold.

Garcia made a plea for unity as discussions move to Congress, urging lawmakers to keep the elections within 2026.

“Sana ano man po ang partido natin, ano man po ang ating posisyon, paniniwala, sana kapag humarap tayo sa Kongreso later, lalo pa’t ipa-finalize nila yung date kung kailan isasagawa ang eleksyon... Sana iisa ang ating sasabihin... Huwag niyo po na gagawing 2027. Huwag niyo pong gagawin na 2028. Unfair iyon sa pinaglaban natin dito sa Bangsamoro. Everything should happen in 2026. Iyon lang po ang posisyon ni COMELEC,” he said.

Discussions and consultations are ongoing, Garcia said, as the poll body works to ensure that any course of action complies with legal requirements and upholds fairness.