The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has lifted all election prohibitions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and will abide by the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to push back the parliamentary elections set for October 13, 2025.
In connection with the conduct of the supposed parliamentary elections, the poll body, in a statement on Saturday, October 4, said it had resolved several requirements by the high court.
With this, the COMELEC announced it has lifted all election prohibitions, “inclusive of the lifting of the prohibitions on the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons in the entire BARMM region, including the City of Isabela in Basilan, and MODIFY the calendar of activities relating to the conduct of the BARMM Parliamentary Elections.”
These include prohibitions on gun bans, social services, public works, and campaign rules.
In an interview on DZRH RH Balita on Saturday, COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said the poll body will change its calendar of activities once a new law has been passed, so that they can know the exact date of elections.
"Bagamat sinasabi ng Korte Suprema na dapat ay bago mag March 31 ng susunod na taon ay maisagawa ang eleksyon pero siyempre, Ang COMELEC ay nakadepende sa aksyon ng Bangsamoro Parliament," he said.
SC TRO, now an injunction
When the High Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) related to the BARMM parliamentary elections, Garcia said it prompted the poll body to halt preparations. However, following the SC’s ruling, the TRO has since been made permanent and has been converted into an injunction.
Meanwhile, Garcia said the poll body has spent ₱1.2 billion for the election preparations in BARMM. These include the printing of ballots and test ballots, the machines to be used, and other paraphernalia needed in various areas in Bangsamoro.
"'Yung ₱1.2 million na 'yan, practically para pong nabalewala na. Therefore, mukhang sa isang reset na halalan, kakailanganin namin ng katulad na amount o kung hindi man, baka mas malaki. At the same time, siyempre ihihingi po natin yung amount na yan dahil nga back to zero muli ang paghahanda ng COMELEC," Garcia expressed.
"Again inuulit ko, hindi pa kami makakapaghanda sa kasalukuyan. Wala pa po tayo maipe-prepare sapagkat hindi pa natin alam ano ang batas na maipapasa nila, ano ang mga bayan na malalagay sa mga distrito. Nakadepende po talaga ang kilos ng komisyon para po sa halalan ng susunod na taon sa ating Parliamento," he added.
The SC decision
In a decision released on October 1, the SC noted that in compliance with Section 5 of the Voters’ Registration Act, the poll body is directed to “promptly proceed” with its preparations and conduct the elections not later than March 31, 2026. This is also in compliance with the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
Moreover, the decision also declared the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77 and BAA No. 58 unconstitutional. With this, the COMELEC was directed to pass a “new and valid districting law” that is consistent with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national laws, and the Constitution.
Upon the release of the court’s decision, COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said that it was “back to zero” for the poll body.
