DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 4 August 2026) — Results from the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections may be available as early as one hour after voting closes at 7:00 p.m., according to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia.
During a press conference at Aria Hotel and Residences on Tuesday, Garcia stated that winners for each parliamentary district could be determined within an hour. “Even across the entire Bangsamoro region, we can identify the top-performing political parties and sectoral organizations,” he said in Filipino.
The COMELEC has allocated 7,000 counting machines for 5,212 precincts, with an excess of 1,218 machines distributed at 10 per town. “The machines can transmit results in just two minutes,” Garcia explained, following crucial procedures such as the destruction of unused ballots and the 7:00 p.m. shutdown of voting systems.
To ensure smooth transmission, one Starlink satellite unit will be provided for every four precincts. Garcia noted that placing Starlinks at lower altitudes rather than as high satellites would enable faster data transmission, even under cloudy conditions.
Earlier, Garcia delivered a keynote speech at the 2nd Bangsamoro Parliament Speakers Bureau in Davao City, where he addressed participants in the Training of Trainers on the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. He revealed that the elections would involve 5,212 precincts across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Teachers will be deployed as early as 2:00 a.m. to prepare for early voting hours (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.), exclusively for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant voters, and their assistors.
Garcia recalled that past early voting sessions saw 4.3 million participants, providing significant relief for elderly voters. Additionally, 20-21 electoral board members—mostly teachers, principals, and support staff—will undergo two weeks of training starting next week.
Three thousand police personnel from Regions 9, 11, and 12 will also be deployed and must be certified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). (Razl EJ Teman/MindaNews)
