Comelec accreditation period extended anew for parties, sectoral groups in BARMM polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the deadline anew for the accreditation of political parties and sectoral groups intending to participate in the 2025 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections to Oct. 8, 2024.

In a decision promulgated Aug. 28, the Comelec en Banc, by virtue of Resolution 11048, moved the deadline for the filing of manifestation of intent to participate (MIP) in the parliamentary polls. It likewise extended the conduct of party conventions from Aug. 29 to Sept. 30.

The poll body first extended the period for the filing of accreditation in June.

"Nilabas natin ang extension ng filing ng MIP sa Bangsamoro. Sa sobrang dami nang nagpapa-accredit sa Comelec, wala pa kaming na-accredit na political parties at saka sectoral organizations kaya minarapat namin na habaan ang period nang pagfa-file ng MIP," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview at the sidelines of the launch of GMA Integrated News' Panata Kontra Fake News.

(We have extended the filing period for the MIP in Bangsamoro. Since many are seeking accreditation with the Comelec, we haven't accredited any political parties and sectoral organizations yet, so we decided to extend the filing period for the MIP.)

According to the Comelec, the resolution will take effect two days after its publication in daily newspapers.

The Comelec promulgated Resolution 10984 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC).

Resolution 10987 set the activities related to the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the corresponding periods within which to comply.

The Comelec earlier said it would launch a massive voter education campaign ahead of the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro region.

Last June, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the first BARMM parliamentary election would be "the most peaceful" as he sought the support of the region's local executives. — VDV, GMA Integrated News