Comelec opens filing period for BARMM parliamentary elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opened the filing period for certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday, November 4.

Aspirants have until November 9 to file their COCs and declarations of intent, with the first BARMM parliamentary elections set for May 12 next year.

The filing period was rescheduled following a Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu from BARMM due to its non-ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019.

Security measures have been intensified at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City, with tightened security protocols and only one lane open for COC submissions.

The parliamentary elections will see 40 seats reserved for political parties, eight for sectoral representatives, and 32 for newly created districts across BARMM.