Comelec: 109 COCs, 6 parties file for BPE; Senate, House push for May 2026 postponement; Lanao del Sur leads with 41 candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that 109 aspirants for parliamentary district representatives and six regional political parties submitted their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) during the Nov. 4-9 filing period for the 2025 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).

Comelec chair George Garcia welcomed the development, noting that despite calls to postpone the elections, there is significant interest among candidates.

Records show that Lanao del Sur had the highest number of aspirants with 41 candidates, followed by Maguindanao del Norte and del Sur each with 15 candidates, Basilan with 14, Tawi-Tawi with 10, Cotabato City with nine, and five in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in Cotabato.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) adopted Resolution No. 641 requesting an extension of the transition period from 2025 to 2028, while Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez have filed bills seeking to postpone the BPE to May 11, 2026.

Despite these efforts, Comelec remains committed to preparing for the elections as mandated by law. No untoward incidents were reported during the filing period.