Comelec to push Bangsamoro polls Oct 13 despite Sulu seats vacant

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will proceed with the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on October 13 with 73 seats to be filled.

This decision was made despite the absence of legislation reallocating the seven former seats for Sulu.

The Comelec's decision is based on Comelec Minute Resolution No. 25-0738, considering the tight pre-election timelines.

The number of district representative seats for other provinces in the Bangsamoro Region remains unaffected.

The seven district representative seats previously allocated to Sulu are considered temporarily vacant.

These vacant seats may be filled later through presidential appointment, a Supreme Court ruling, or future legislation.

The exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM by the Supreme Court was a reason for postponing the elections from May 12 to October 13.