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Comelec defers reconstitution of BARMM parliamentary districts

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc resolved to defer the implementation of the proposed reconstitution of parliamentary districts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to lack of material time.

Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday that with the proximity of the scheduled BARMM elections on Oct. 13, 2025 Comelec could not afford to wait much longer for the passage into law of Parliament Bill 351 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025 which, to date, has not yet been signed by the Parliament Speaker and the Chief Minister.

During the Executive Session of the Comelec, Garcia added, the Commission En Banc has deferred its implementation to the next regular BARMM parliamentary elections or after the first BARMM parliamentary elections on Oct. 13, 2025 "due to its impractical applications considering the time-bound milestone preparatory activities, onset of election and campaign periods, and to avoid voter confusion and disenfranchisement in the Bangsamoro Region."

Garcia said the Commission was expecting some opposition to its decision but stressed that it was ready to defend it.

"We are ready to defend our action. If they want to question, then so be it," Garcia said, stressing that every day that passes is very important, and might not be able to meet their timelines if they continue to wait for the approval of Parliamentary Bill 351.

"On the part of the Comelec, the blame is on us if we continue to wait. No changes will be made on the ballots, in our preparations, the list of candidates. Our plans on the deployment of ballots, machines, election paraphernalia, among others, will stay," the poll chief further said.