Candidacy filing for BARMM polls reset to November

MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has moved the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. In Comelec Resolution No. 11051 released Wednesday, the Commission en banc ruled to postpone the filing period from Oct. 1 to 8 to Nov. 4 to 9. "The certificate of candidacy (COC) for District Representative in the BARMM parliament shall be filed on November 4, 2024 (Monday) to November 9, 2024 (Saturday), from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO)," it said. The poll body also moved the deadline for the filing of List of Nominees and Manifestations of Intent to Participate for regional parliamentary political parties (RPPP) from Oct. 8 to Nov. 9. "The List of Nominees and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination with Affidavit of Non-Affinity of RPPP or Coalition shall be filed together with the Manifestation of Intent to participate in the Parliamentary Elections (MIP-PE), not later than November 9, 2024 (Saturday), with the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO)," the Resolution said. On the other hand, Comelec chairman George Garcia admitted that the decision to reschedule the activities was due to the High Court's ruling, which excluded Sulu province from the BARMM. "The decision of the Supreme Court to exclude the province of Sulu from the BARMM has crucial effect on the ongoing pre-election activities conducted by the Commission as there is a need to accommodate several adjustments in the Commission's administrative jurisdiction over Sulu," the poll body chief said. He assured that the rescheduling of the filing period in the region will not cause any delay in their preparation for the BARMM polls, which would coincide with the midterm polls on May 12, 2025. (PNA) Source: Philippines News agency