Comelec sets BARMM election on March 30, 2026

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled the inaugural parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on March 30, 2026.

This is according to Comelec Resolution No. 11181, which set the calendar of activities for the first-ever Bangsamoro polls.

The period for the filing of certificate of candidacies (COCs) shall be re-opened from January 5 to January 9, 2026.

The election period shall start from January 29 until April 14, 2026 while the campaign period for the BARMM polls shall be from February 12 until March 28, 2026.

Other scheduled activities are as follows:

• February 2, 2026 - Last day to post the list of candidates
• February 2 to February 28, 2026 - Roadshow and training of Electoral Boards (EBs), Special EBs, Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO), DESO Tech, Hub Tech, DESO TSS, support staff, board of canvassers (BOC)
• March 20, 2026 - Last day to post notice of date and time of final testing and sealing of automated counting machines
• March 25, 2026 - Last day to post/serve notice of convening of BOCs
• March 27, 2026 - Final testing and sealing
• March 31 to April 4, 2026 - Period within which the Election Officers (EO) shall advise in writing, by personal delivery or registered mail, all candidates residing in the EO’s jurisdiction to comply with their obligation to file their Sworn Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs)
• March 31 to April 29, 2026 - Payment of honoraria of poll workers
• April 29, 2026 - Last day to file SOCEs.

Prohibited acts

Meanwhile, the Comelec shall impose a gun ban in the BARMM during the election period. The poll body shall also prohibit candidates from using security personnel or bodyguards, unless authorized by the Comelec.

It is also prohibited to alter the territory of a precinct or establish new precincts; transfer or detail civil service officers and employees; organize or maintain reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces; suspend elective, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officers without prior Comelec approval; and illegally release prisoners.

Meanwhile, the following acts are considered prohibited in the BARMM during the campaign period:

• Giving of donations by candidates, their spouses, any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or campaign managers or representatives
• Hiring of new civil service employees or creation of new government agencies
• Promoting or giving salary increases to any government officials or employees
• Releasing of public funds except those enumerated in Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC)
• Constructing public works except for projects exempted by the Comelec
• Using armored land or water vessels or aircraft
• Removing, destroying, or defacing lawful election propaganda, and
• Using policemen and provincial guards as bodyguards or security guards.

Public funds shall not be released from March 20 to March 30, 2026 in the BARMM except for purposes of medical or burial assistance.

The Comelec shall also implement a liquor ban on the eve of Election Day. Also prohibited are any campaign activities, as well as giving and accepting free transportation, food, drinks, or items of value.

Also prohibited on Election Day are:

• Campaigning
• Using another person’s voter affidavit to vote
• Voting more than once
• Destroying or substituting lawful campaign materials
• Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda against a candidate within 30 meters from the polling place
• Opening of stalls for wares, merchandise, and refreshment within 30 meters from the polling place, and
• Holding fairs, boxing bouts, horse races, and other similar sports on Election Day.

Postponement to 2026

In October, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the postponement of the Bangsamoro election originally scheduled on October 13 after it declared as unconstitutional the two districting laws – Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77 – passed by the Bangsamoro government.

The BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025, amended BAA 58 and redistricted the vacant seats in light of an SC decision excluding Sulu from the autonomous region.

The SC also asked the BTA to pass a redistricting bill and directed the Comelec to continue its preparations and conduct the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections no later than March 31, 2026.

Reset

The Bangsamoro polls were reset from May 12 to October 13, 2025 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in February enacted the law postponing the parliamentary elections.

The suspension came months after the SC, in September 2024, upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of the BARMM.

In November 2024, the SC denied motions seeking the reversal of this decision.

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

The BTA issued BAA 77 in August, but the Comelec said it would not implement the law due to “lack of material time” for the preparations. — JMA, GMA Integrated News