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Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assist in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Cotabato City Pilot School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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BARMM

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172734580697220190121-cotabato-plebiscite-JC-7929.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assist in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Cotabato City Pilot School, January 21, 2019. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Commission on Elections (Comelec) <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline !important;--darkreader-inline-color:#bfb9b1;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:#181a1b">chairman George Garcia said on Thursday they are &quot;hellbent&quot;</span> <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline !important;--darkreader-inline-color:#bfb9b1;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:#181a1b">on conducting</span> the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in May 2025 despite the Supreme Court ruling excluding the Sulu province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/zubiri-postponing-bangsamoro-parliamentary-elections-violation-of-law-2106">• Zubiri: Postponing Bangsamoro parliamentary elections violation of law</a></div><p>&quot;Wala naman nagsasabi sa amin na huwag mag-proceed sa eleksyon. Yung naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema tinanggal ang Sulu. Hindi naman sinabi na huwag magpa-eleksyon ang Comelec. Hindi naman sinabi na huwag na magpa-eleksyon sa natitirang apat na probinsya ng Bangsamoro,&quot; Garcia said.</p><p>&quot;Until and unless we will be restrained by the higher court, we will proceed with the election in the Bangsamoro,&quot; he added. </p><p>Following the release of the SC ruling, uncertainty lingers on what would happen to the seven parliamentary seats allocated for Sulu. </p><p>Earlier this month, parliament member Michael Midtimbang filed a resolution calling on Congress to postpone the elections to give them more time to amend the law to reassign the seven seats. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/9/26/dbm-tells-bangsamoro-gov-t-sulu-province-to-maintain-status-quo-despite-sc-ruling-1313">• DBM tells Bangsamoro gov&#x27;t, Sulu province to maintain &#x27;status quo&#x27; despite SC ruling</a></div><p>However, Garcia said they cannot wait since the election is already next year. </p><p>&quot;What if the Bangsamoro will not pass an act of parliament that will redistribute or reapportion the seven seats? Then we will be waiting for them and that cannot be the case. The exercise of our power and prerogative depends on the law. It cannot depend on somebody. In the meantime, we will proceed with the election as 73 only as basis,&quot; he explained. </p><p>Bangsamoro Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun earlier said it&#x27;s possible to reassign the seats but it will take a long and tedious process. </p><p>But he said if the directive is to push through with the polls with only 73 seats up for grabs, then they will follow. </p><p>Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also said there is no specific number in the law and the discretion on the seats is up to the Bangsamoro parliament. </p><div><strong>LAW ON ELECTION</strong></div><p>Garcia said it is their duty to conduct elections when there is a law that requires it. </p><p>Under Republic Act No. 11593, the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections was postponed from 2022 to 2025. </p><p>Section 13 of the law states &quot;the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government under this Organic Law shall be held and synchronized with the 2025 national elections.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The Commission on Elections, through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, shall promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections, enforce and administer them pursuant to national laws, this Organic Law and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code,&quot; the law further read. </p><p>The poll body chief said they will fulfill their duty by pushing through with the electoral exercise.</p><p>Garcia said there are over two million registered voters in the Bangsamoro region. </p><div><strong>NO NEED TO RESIGN</strong></div><p>Meantime, the poll body chief explained that sitting members of the Bangsamoro parliament do not need to step down if they decide to run in the upcoming polls. </p><p>Under Comelec Resolution 11045, appointed officials, active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and employees in government-owned or-controlled corporations are deemed resigned once they submit their certificate of candidacy. </p><p>But for members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, it&#x27;s a different case since their positions are &quot;elective by nature.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa BARMM kasi may nakalagay sa transitory provision nila, yung Bangsamoro parliament ay appointed lahat ng ating pangulo. Nakalagay po sa election code mismo na kung tatakbo yung mga inappoint na yan sa Bangsamoro parliament sa darating na national and local elections or darating na Bangsamoro parliamentary election, they are not deemed resign to their present position as members of the Bangsamoro parliament. Yan po ang nakalagay mismo sa election code ng parliament,&quot; Garcia said. </p><p>&quot;For purposes of the election of District Representatives in the BARMM Parliament the incumbent appointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), whose positions are elective by nature, are not deemed ipso filing of their COCs. Those members of the Parliament who are designated to positions in the Cabinet and other executive officers are likewise not deemed resigned for the same reason,&quot; the same Comelec resolution read. </p><p>The Comelec has moved the COC filing period for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections from October 1 to 8 to November 4 to 9.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YG3DvpHTOZc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Following the release of the SC ruling, uncertainty lingers on what would happen to the seven parliamentary seats allocated for Sulu. </p>

Following the release of the SC ruling, uncertainty lingers on what would happen to the seven parliamentary seats allocated for Sulu.

Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will push through: Comelec

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Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will push through: Comelec

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 26, 2024 06:32 PM PHT

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