Comelec 'very worried' over non-passage of Bangsamoro redistricting law

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it is “in a quandary” and very worried over the non-passage of a new redistricting law by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which shall serve as the basis for the inaugural Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on March 30, 2026.

“Ang Comelec ay masyadong worried na. Pinagpulungan namin kanina. Ang deadline ng Supreme Court (SC) ay October 30, sa amin November 30 na hopefully magka-redistricting law,” said Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia.

(The Comelec is very worried. We had a meeting about it earlier. The SC deadline for the passage of the new law is until October 30 and for us, we can wait until November 30.)

“Aaminin namin, the Comelec is really in a quandary kung ano na mangyayari sa Bangsamoro. Pero syempre kung magagawan pa ng paraan, titingnan namin kung kaya pa na ma-hold ang elections sa March 30,” he added.

(We admit we are in a quandary about what will happen to the Bangsamoro. But of course, we will exhaust all measures to hold the March 30 elections.)

Last week, the BTA said it is eyeing to pass the districting bill before the end of the year.

Earlier, the SC set October 30 as the deadline for the passage of a new measure redistricting the seven parliamentary seats initially assigned to Sulu.

However, Garcia then said the Comelec may still wait for the approval of the new law until November 30.

“Kung ang mapapasa lang ay redistricting lang, walang problema. Mukhang kaya pa gawan ng paraan magkahalalan sa March 30,” Garcia said on Tuesday.

(If they will pass the redistricting law then there will be no problem. We can make ways to hold the elections on March 30.)

“Ngunit kung may ibang gagalawin, tulad ng accreditation political parties, sectoral organization, kung i-open nila ulit yan for accreditation, baka di na kayanin,” he added.

(But if they will also make other changes like reopen the accreditation for political parties and sectoral organizations then we may not be able to hold the polls.)

Garcia noted that the BTA has total discretion in crafting the redistricting bill.

“Hindi po namin sinasabi na hindi tuloy ang March 30. Sa kasalukuyan, March 30 pa din ang Bangsamoro elections na naka-depende sa anong klase na batas papasa ng Bangsamoro,” Garcia added.

(We are not saying the March 30 polls will be postponed. It still depends on the law the Bangsamoro government will pass.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News