Preparations for BARMM polls go full blast

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections, together with government security forces and partner agencies, said it is continuing full-scale preparations for the conduct of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on September 14, despite pending legislative measures related to the polls.

Speaking during a command conference for the upcoming elections, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body remains committed to carrying out all necessary preparations to ensure the successful conduct of the Bangsamoro elections as scheduled.

“As long as the Comelec is concerned, wala na pong makakapigil sa halalan sa Bangsamoro sa September 14. Tuloy na tuloy po ito,” Garcia said.

He noted that the conduct of election-related command conferences reflects the readiness not only for the Bangsamoro polls but also for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set for November.

Garcia acknowledged that there are pending legislative proposals concerning the elections but emphasized that these remain under the discretion of Congress.

“Bagamat alam naman po namin na meron pong mga naka-pending na mga panukalang batas, yan naman po ay diskresyon ng ating Kongreso. Sila naman po ang may final say,” he said.

The Comelec chief stressed that while lawmakers deliberate on proposed measures, the poll body, security forces, and other government agencies will continue their preparations without interruption.

“Pero si Comelec, kasama ang ating security forces, kasama ang iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan ay tuloy-tuloy lamang po ang aming ginagawang paghahanda,” Garcia added.

The Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will mark a key milestone in the political transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as voters elect members of the Bangsamoro Parliament under the region’s parliamentary system.

Comelec and security authorities have been conducting coordination meetings, command conferences, and operational planning activities aimed at ensuring the orderly, peaceful, and credible conduct of the elections across the Bangsamoro region. 

Officials said preparations remain on track as election day approaches, with inter-agency coordination continuing to strengthen electoral security and logistical readiness. (Contributed story)