Comelec gun ban remains in BARMM

Despite suspension of poll preparations

MANILA, Philippines —  The gun ban and other election prohibitions imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will remain in effect even as preparations for the BARMM parliamentary elections have been suspended.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia warned people in the BARMM that anyone caught violating the gun ban and other election laws would be arrested and charged.

Although preparations for the BARMM elections were suspended, Garcia said that prohibitions provided under the law are still in force.

He said the Comelec is not postponing the parliamentary election scheduled on Oct. 13 without authorization.

Yesterday, poll watchdog Independent Election Monitoring Center (IEMC) expressed support for a Comelec decision to stop all preparations for the Bangsamoro election.

Preparations for the BARMM parliamentary elections were suspended after the Supreme Court (SC) stopped the implementation of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77, which mandates the redistricting of the BARMM.

However, the IEMC does not support the postponement of the elections.

“It is crucial to emphasize that repeated postponements of the BARMM elections undermine the integrity of the electoral process and erode the public’s trust in elections as a vital means of citizen expression and representation in governance,” the IEMC said.

The poll watchdog urged the SC, the Comelec and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to immediately resolve a consolidated petition questioning the BAA 77 so the election can proceed as scheduled.