BARMM polls dominant political parties named

MANILA, Philippines —  The United Bangsamoro Justice Party and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party have been named as dominant majority and minority parties, respectively, for the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The declaration of the dominant majority and minority regional parliamentary political parties is contained under Resolution 11248 promulgated by the Commission on Elections yesterday.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the dominant majority and minority parties would be furnished with hard copies of election returns, specifically the sixth and seventh copies, respectively.

Since 11 regional parliamentary political parties have filed petition for accreditation, from which the dominant majority and minority parties were selected, there are now nine major regional parliamentary political parties that are qualified to participate in the Bangsamoro elections scheduled on Sept. 14.

These parties are the AL-ITTIHAD-Ungaya sa Kagawib Nu Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Empowerment and Social Transformation Party, Bangsamoro Party, BARMM Grand Coalition, Mahardika Party, Moro Ako Party, Partido Bangon Bangsamoro and People’s Consultative Party as well as the Indigenous Settlers, SAMA and Minorities Alliance Party.

The major parties will be furnished with copies of election returns, or from the 11th to 18th copies.

The dominant majority and minority parties as well as the major parties will be entitled to one official watcher in every polling place and canvassing center.

The parties are granted ex-officio membership as non-voting members in the provincial, city and municipal boards of canvassers.

The Comelec said several criteria were set to determine the dominant majority and minority, and the major parties.

These include the ability to field a complete slate of candidates and nominees for different elective positions in the Bangsamoro Parliament, the number of municipal and city chapters established by the regional parliamentary political parties per province, and the number of women candidates and party nominees fielded.

The Comelec said certificates of accreditation would be issued to dominant majority and minority parties, and each accredited major party, indicating their ranks as determined under Resolution 11248