Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17695852769871769585273972.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School,  January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School,  January 21, 2019. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Commission on Elections said Wednesday it was postponing the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled on March 30, 2026 following delays in a law reallocating Sulu’s parliamentary seats.</p><p>Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the Executive Director, Law Department, and Bangsamoro Study Group had noted that &quot;legally and operationally,&quot; the poll body cannot hold the polls on March 30.</p><p>Garcia explained that the elections could no longer be legally conducted within the required timeframe set by the Supreme Court, which prohibits holding polls inside the 120-day window before the scheduled date.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/13/garcia-comelec-faces-strong-legal-operational-issues-on-bangsamoro-polls-1621">READ: Comelec faces ‘strong legal, operational issues’ on Bangsamoro polls -- Garcia</a></div><p>The calendar of activities for the elections set to begin Wednesday night will be &quot;set aside&quot; and no longer implemented, Garcia added.</p><p>Congress will have to pass a new law to fix the date of the Bangsamoro elections.</p><p>&quot;Hindi na namin kaya ang isang buwan at dalawang linggo para isagawa ang halalan na yan. Nakalagay rin po sa aming calendar of activities namin na dapat magsisimula ngayong gabi ang election period kung saan nandoon na rin ang gun ban,&quot; said Garcia. </p><p>&quot;Ito po ay na-set aside dahil wala na pong bisa at hindi na po ito ipapatupad.&quot;</p><p>The Comelec will also submit a manifestation to the Supreme Court to explain its compliance with the Court’s directive.</p><div></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections said Wednesday it was postponing the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled on March 30, 2026 following delays in a law reallocating Sulu’s parliamentary seats.</p>

The Commission on Elections said Wednesday it was postponing the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled on March 30, 2026 following delays in a law reallocating Sulu’s parliamentary seats.

Comelec defers March 30 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections

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Comelec defers March 30 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 28, 2026 03:29 PM PHT

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Updated January 28, 2026 05:53 PM PHT

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Bangsamoro

elections

Comelec

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