16 political parties apply for accreditation as BARMM elex candidacy filing nears

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said 16 political parties have applied for accreditation ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, which is set next week.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia made the statement Tuesday evening right after a meeting with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in connection with the BARMM as well as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

“Labing-anim ang nag-file ng kanilang application for accreditation ng mga political parties at plano natin itong bago matapos ang Abril, tatapusin natin ang lahat kung sila ba ay accredited o hindi,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.

(Sixteen have filed their applications for accreditation of political parties and our plan is that before the end of April, we will finalize everything whether they are accredited or not.)

“So that pag nag-file sila ng kanilang kandidatura ngayong darating na May 5 hanggang 7, at least maliwanag na kung ano ang partido na tinatakbuhan po nila,” he added.

(So that when they file their candidacy this May 5 to 7, at least it will be clear what party they are running for.)

The Bangsamoro parliamentary elections are set for September 14, 2026.

Garcia said the Bangsamoro parliamentary election will proceed as scheduled and will not be postponed, marking it as the first of its kind in Philippine history, Garcia said. —VAL, GMA News