By Vito Barcelo
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended preparations for the October 13 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections due to a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court.
But Comelec chair George Garcia clarified that the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will still proceed as scheduled on October 13 except for the seven parliamentary district seats originally allocated to Sulu but redistributed by Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 to other BARMM areas.
The TRO halts the implementation of BAA No. 77, which sought to reapportion BARMM’ parliamentary districts and reallocate the seven seats assigned to Sulu. The Supreme Court issued the order in response to petitions questioning the law’s constitutionality.
On Monday, September 8, the high court, in a special en banc session, directed the Comelec and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to suspend implementation of BAA 77, pending resolution of two petitions filed before the Court. The parties were given five non-extendible days to submit their comments.
Garcia said only 73 of 80 parliamentary seats will be contested on October 13.
He added that the TRO’s effect on the number of seats could alter the electoral process in the region.
