COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 2 September) — The Commission on Elections has maintained that it is too late to include the seven reapportioned districts from Sulu province in the upcoming first parliamentary elections.
Atty. Nabil Mutia, officer-in-charge of Comelec Cotabato City, stated that only 73 slots, instead of 80, will be included in the ballot. “The printing of the ballots continues based on the original assignments without the new redistricting. Cotabato City still has two districts,” he said during a peace covenant signing for district representatives.
The Comelec did not account for the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act, which redistributed seven seats from Sulu to other BARMM provinces and cities. While the BARMM Organic Law provides for an 80-seat Parliament (40 party representatives, 32 single districts, and eight sectoral), the single district representatives will now be only 25.
Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Committee on Local Government, expects the Comelec to review Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 77, which formalized Sulu’s redistricting.
Meanwhile, Mutia confirmed that the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option will remain on the ballot despite concerns. He clarified that NOTA would only be relevant if it wins in all 40 district seats or secures 4% of votes for political parties.
Mutia also introduced the “Calibrated Kontra-Bigay” policy, allowing electioneering cases based on “presumed acts” of vote-buying, such as distributing aid with campaign materials present. Suspicious activities, like excessive watchers or small-denomination bills, may also prompt disqualification cases. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
