Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

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/175878777717320190120-BOL-plebiscite-6990.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A woman sells fish at a wet market In Cotabato City a day before the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) Plebiscite.  January 20, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing a possible postponement of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections slated for October 13. </p><p>This, following a temporary restraining order on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Act 77 (BAA 77) issued by the Supreme Court.</p><p>Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said with just over two weeks before the scheduled election, it has become “legally and factually impossible” to conduct all required actions in time for the polls.</p><p>“Meron kaming recommendation from our Project Management Office at mga galing sa field na talagang hindi na namin kaya. Yung mga gagawin pa naming voter’s education, paano pa kami iikot ngayon sa buong limang probinsya ng Bangasamoro? Ano po ang ipapaliwanag namin sa mga kababayan natin?” he explained.</p><p>(We have had recommendations from our Project Management Office and those from the field that we really wouldn’t be able to do it. How would we be able to carry out our voters’ education campaigns in the five provinces of Bangsamoro? What will we explain to them?)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/20/comelec-security-measures-gun-ban-still-in-effect-amid-suspension-in-preps-for-barmm-polls-1505"><strong>Comelec: Security measures, gun ban still in effect amid suspension in preps for BARMM polls</strong></a></div><p>BAA 77 is a law that redistributes the seven parliamentary seats originally allocated to Sulu. This, after the high court also ruled last year that Sulu is no longer part of the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao.</p><p>Garcia said while BAA 58 has already excluded Sulu in the creation of the parliamentary districts of BARMM, BAA 77 redistributes the seven seats allotted to the province.</p><p>“Kung ang Comelec ay magpapatuloy sa BAA 58 na alam naman ng Comelec na ni-repeal, pinatay na ng BAA 77 ang BAA 58 pero tinuloy namin, hind po ba pag nakapag-elect ng mga representate base sa BAA 77, eh parang null and void yun.”</p><p>(If COMELEC continues with BAA 58 while we know it has been repealed by BAA 77 and representatives were elected based on BAA 58, is it not null and void?)</p><p>“In the same manner, may BAA 77 ka, itinuloy pa rin natin yung October 13, dinefy namin ang Supreme Court. Eh hindi po ba pwedeng ideklara na balewala yung election? Ayaw po natin umabot sa ganiyan.”</p><p>(In the same manner, we have BAA 77 and we continued the elections defying the Supreme Court’s order. Doesn’t this make the elections useless? We don’t want to reach that point.)</p><p>The Comelec chief said the gridlock is a result of the rightful exercise of jurisdiction and power of different agencies of government. He also clarified that the SC’s TRO does not revive the already repealed BAA 58 but rather only halts the implementation of BAA 77.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/17/comelec-suspends-preparations-for-bangsamoro-elections-1203"><strong>Comelec suspends preparations for Bangsamoro elections </strong></a></div><p>“Pero wala pang deklarasyon ang Korte Suprema na ang BAA 77 ay unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful. Presumed legal, lawful, constitutional yan, as of this time. Sabi lang nila tumigil ka muna Comelec at BTA sa pagpapatupad niyan.”</p><p>(The Supreme Court hasn’t yet declared BAA 77 as unconstitutional, illegale or unlawful. It is still presumed legal, lawful and constitutional as of this time.)</p><p>A special en banc is expected to meet on Thursday afternoon to further discuss action plans as October 13 draws near. What is clear at this point is that Comelec will have to wait on the high court&#x27;s decision.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POSTPONEMENT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In the meantime, the Commission is looking to invoke Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code which postpones elections for “any serious cause” like force majeure.</p><p>“Pwede namin ma-consider yung mga bagay-bagay ngayon lalo na yung na-issue sa aming TRO o kaya yung mismong pending case kasi hindi po namin alam kung anong batas ang aming ipapatupad sa October 13. Hindi po ba force majeure yun?”</p><p>(We can consider what is happening now, especially the issued TRO as force majeure because we don’t know what law we will implement on October 13. Is it not force majeure?)</p><p>Based on the Omnibus Election Code, elections postponed due to force majeure should be carried out no later than 30 days after declaring the end of the force majeure, which in this case, is when the Supreme Court either lifts the TRO or decides on the constitutionality of BAA 77.</p><p>Should the TRO on BAA 77 be lifted by the high court, Comelec would require P774 million to fund various election requirements like reprinting of ballots, reconfiguration of machines, change in deployment plans and reverse logistics.</p><p>Garcia said the commission will most likely release a declaration on the possible postponement of the Bangsamoro elections next week.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></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/UuwxSgsOKUw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div> </div>

<p>Comelec chairman George Garcia said with just over two weeks before the scheduled election, it has become “legally and factually impossible” to conduct all required actions in time for the polls.</p>

Comelec chairman George Garcia said with just over two weeks before the scheduled election, it has become “legally and factually impossible” to conduct all required actions in time for the polls.

Comelec says holding BARMM polls on Oct. 13 'legally, factually impossible'

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Comelec says holding BARMM polls on Oct. 13 'legally, factually impossible'

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 25, 2025 04:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

Commission on Elections

Postponement

Comelec

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