An additional budget of P2.5 billion would be needed if the Bangsamoro Parliament elections will not push through on May 12, 2025, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.
“Kapag tayo ay na-reset at na-postpone ang Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections, dahil yan ay separate elections, parang ang dating ay special elections, kakailanganin natin ng separate na gamit, guro, at balota,” Comelec chairperson George Garcia said in a Dobol B TV interview.
(If we reset and postpone the Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections, that would mean a special election will be held and we will need separate equipment, teachers, and ballots.)
“Therefore, meron pong kakailanganin kaming separate na budget para po dyan…Kailangan po namin ng P2.5 billion para po magsagawa ng isang eleksyon sa Bangsamoro para po sa parliyamento,” he added.
(Therefore, we will need a separate budget for that. We need P2.5 billion to hold an election in Bangsamoro for the parliament.)
The Bangsamoro Parliament elections were originally scheduled to coincide with the 2025 local and national elections.
However, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent the proposed measure postponing the said polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The Senate version of the bill moved the BARMM elections to October 13, 2025, while the House of Representatives version to May 2026.
Ballots, candidates
Garcia said that he has ordered the suspension of the printing of ballots for the Bangsamoro Parliament elections after the President’s move to certify as urgent the proposed measure postponing the BARMM polls.
Garcia also added that the bill that will be enacted may have provisions on whether or not the filing of candidacy will be reopened.
“Kung ang nakalagay dyan kahit ma-postpone ang elections ay hindi na tatanggap o magbubukas uli ng filing of candidacy, so kung sino ang nag-file ng candidacy noong November 4 to 9 ay sila na po yung kandidato para sa Bangsamoro,” he said.
(If it is written there, even if the elections are postponed, the filing of candidacy will not be reopened, so whoever filed the candidacy on November 4 to 9 will be the candidate for the Bangsamoro.)
“Subalit kung ang nakalagay dyan, dahil maapektuhan yung mismong komposisyon ng mga munisipyo sa parliamentary district na tinatawag, ay mukhang kakailangin namin na mag-open uli ng filing ng candidacy o balewala na yung unang na-file na mga candidacy,” he added.
(But if it is written there, because the very composition of the municipalities in the parliamentary district will be affected, it seems that we will need to open the filing of candidacy again or ignore the first filed candidacies.)
If the BARMM polls would be postponed, Garcia said the Bangsamoro Parliament has to distribute Sulu’s parliamentary seats to other provinces as the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu is not part of the region.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
