BARMM polls to proceed even with only 73 seats up for grabs — Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday it can no longer delay the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on October 13 even though only 73 seats are up for grabs.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the poll body is ready to explain before the Supreme Court the poll body's decision to proceed with the parliamentary elections in the region. 

"Nakahanda naman po kaming tumugon at magpaliwanag sa ating Kataastasang Hukuman kung kami ay aatasan na sumagot," he said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(We are ready to answer and explain to the Supreme Court if we are ordered to respond.) 

"Kung sakali man pong magkakaroon ng development, whether sa batas, whether sa kaso o pagkuwestiyon at ano pa man, nakahanda naman po tumugon ang Comelec," Laudiangco said.

"Ngunit isa lamang po ang malinaw na mensahe ng Comelec sa bagay na ito, kailangan na po namin maghanda at hindi na po kami puwede mag-delay pa kung nais natin matuloy ang halalan sa October 13," he added.

(In case there is a development, whether on law, the case, or any questions, the Comelec is ready to respond. However, the Comelec has only one clear message on this matter: We need to prepare and we cannot face any further delays if we want the elections to proceed on October 13.)

There were supposed to be 80 available parliamentary seats, but the seven seats that were originally intended for Sulu have yet to be reallocated by the interim Bangsamoro Parliament. 

In a September 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM. 

The High Court denied motions seeking the reversal of the decision in November 2024.

The SC ruling necessitated the redistribution of the seven vacated seats originally allocated to Sulu under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed into law the measure postponing the BARMM polls from May 12 to October 13 this year.

Malacañang had said the President supported a Senate bill for the postponement of the BARMM polls as this would "address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure." — VDV, GMA Integrated News