Jamaine Punzalan

Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia, May 19, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

HALALAN -PARTYLIST

Adrian Ayalin

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/175575809185320250519-comelec-george-garcia-JC4269 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia, May 19, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections assured voters on Thursday that the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections would push through despite the postponed printing of official ballots.</p><p>Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/comelec-postpones-printing-of-ballots-as-bta-reallocates-sulu-seats-2218"> ballot printing was postponed</a> pending the redistribution of seats earlier allocated to the province of Sulu, which rejected in 2019 the Bangsamoro Organic Law.</p><p>“Proceed ka nang proceed, sa bandang huli mali na pala ang naiimprenta mo, masisisi kami bakit magre-reprint ng balota samantalang dapat pinag-aralan muna ang implikasyon ng mismong naipasa na iyan ng parlyamento,” Garcia said.</p><p>Garcia noted that Parliament Bill No. 351, which amends the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 58 to address the reallocation issue, is still on the third and final reading.</p><p>While the commission has more than 50 days before the October 13 elections, it will need 12 days to reconfigure the ballots, along with other issues such as re-allocation of election paraphernalia.</p><p>“Hindi po pwedeng  tumagal at humaba iyong uncertainty na iyan lalong-lalo na ang printing ng balota ng Bangsamoro,” Garcia said.</p><p>He said another contentious issue that should be addressed was the “None of The Above” or NOTA option in the ballot under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, which raised a few concerns.</p><p>Garcia noted that under the law, if more than 50 percent of votes are for NOTA, a special election will have to be held.</p><p>“Kung mag-special election tayo, hindi po ba ang ating mga makina ay one-time use lang ang lease diyan and therefore kakailanganin mag-procure ka uli, magkaroon ka uli ng procurement,” Garcia said.</p><p>He noted that if NOTA gets less than 50 percent, the second placer wins, which also raises a legal issue following a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/22/sc-abandons-second-placer-rule-when-winner-is-disqualified-1417">recent decision of the Supreme Court.</a></p><p>“Hindi po ba mayroon tayong latest na desisyon, bago lamang, Mangudadatu vs. Comelec kung saan inabandona na ng Korte Suprema ang second placer rule so paano ang implikasyon noong mismong exploratory note na iyon versus sa naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” Garcia said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said it would deploy 1,300 personnel to assist voters in the Bangsamoro polls, should their services be required by the Comelec. </p><p>The poll body earlier said it would tap the PCG to serve as members of the Electoral Board in case some teachers would be unable to render their services. </p><p>“Mayroon na po tayong 1,300 personnel na itinalaga po dito, so we are just waiting for the formal training that we will be receiving from the Comelec and those personnel, will be coming from our Luzon area,” PCG Spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said in a televised briefing.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BkNeaS2sw2c" title="Comelec: No more postponement of the October elections in Bangsamoro region | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections assured voters that the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections would push through despite the postponed printing of official ballots.</p>

The Commission on Elections assured voters that the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections would push through despite the postponed printing of official ballots.

Comelec says Oct. 13 Bangsamoro elections to push through despite ballot issues

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Regions

Comelec says Oct. 13 Bangsamoro elections to push through despite ballot issues

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 21, 2025 02:39 PM PHT

Read More:

BARMM

BARMM elections

Bangsamoro

Comelec

George Garcia

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.