MANILA (September 22) — The BARMM campaign and election periods are still in place, the Commission on Elections explained, notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s order temporarily stopping the execution of a legislation rearranging the parliamentary districts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Comelec stated it followed its Law Department’s proposal that the campaign and election periods for the October 13 BARMM poll “are not lifted.”
“It bears emphasis that the temporary restraining order does not operate to halt the conduct of the parliamentary elections, as mandated under Section 1 of Republic Act 121234,” stated a section of the Comelec Law Department’s memorandum.
“This means the campaign and election periods for the 2025 (BARMM polls) remain in effect,” the commission added.
According to the Comelec, the campaign period will continue from August 28 to October 11, while the election period will last from August 14 to October 28.
The poll commission further stressed that whether the October 13 elections will go ahead would be determined by the petition now before the high court. “We are also eagerly anticipating and praying for this,” the Comelec stated in a statement.
Although the Comelec has complied with the high court’s temporary restraining order, it emphasized that, should the TRO be lifted, the “suspension is limited only to the Commission’s internal preparatory activities and should not extend to the regular conduct of security operations in support of the upcoming elections”.
Unfortunately, “prohibitions, such as gun ban, public works ban, ayuda ban, release of public funds (except medical or burial assistance) and others covered by Resolution 11149 — are also in effect,” it continued.
The processing of petitions for authority, requests for exemption, and other prohibition-related issues during elections will continue.
