REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
BARMM Polls Postponed As COMELEC Cites Legal, Time Constraints
Photo credit: BARMM
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially postponed the March 30, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, citing tight timelines and unresolved legal issues that make holding the polls no longer feasible.
In a statement released Wednesday, January 28, COMELEC said the decision was approved by the Commission en banc through Minute Resolution No. 26-0071 during its meeting at the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.
According to COMELEC, preparations for the BARMM parliamentary elections have reached a point where key election activities can no longer be completed within the remaining time before the scheduled March 30 vote. As a result, the elections will be deferred until Congress passes a law setting a new election date.
The poll body said the remaining period before the scheduled election has become “too proximate,” leaving insufficient time to carry out mandatory preparatory steps needed to ensure a credible, orderly, and lawful electoral process.
COMELEC also pointed to legal complications, particularly the effectivity of Parliament Bill No. 415, the BARMM parliamentary districting law, which took effect within the election period. Under Republic Act No. 8189, or the Voters Registration Act of 1996, changes to precincts and related election structures are prohibited once the election period has begun.
In addition, COMELEC noted that certain election processes—such as assemblies and conventions for the selection of Parliamentary Sectoral Representatives—cannot proceed without a legally fixed election date, based on existing legal and judicial guidelines.
Following the postponement, COMELEC also set aside and terminated all ongoing election-related activities under Resolution Nos. 11181 and 11184. These include the official calendar of activities and the periods covering prohibited acts tied to the March 30 BARMM parliamentary polls.
With this development, COMELEC confirmed that the BARMM Parliamentary Elections will no longer take place on March 30, 2026, and will remain on hold until Congress enacts a law establishing a new election schedule.
In a statement released Wednesday, January 28, COMELEC said the decision was approved by the Commission en banc through Minute Resolution No. 26-0071 during its meeting at the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.
According to COMELEC, preparations for the BARMM parliamentary elections have reached a point where key election activities can no longer be completed within the remaining time before the scheduled March 30 vote. As a result, the elections will be deferred until Congress passes a law setting a new election date.
The poll body said the remaining period before the scheduled election has become “too proximate,” leaving insufficient time to carry out mandatory preparatory steps needed to ensure a credible, orderly, and lawful electoral process.
COMELEC also pointed to legal complications, particularly the effectivity of Parliament Bill No. 415, the BARMM parliamentary districting law, which took effect within the election period. Under Republic Act No. 8189, or the Voters Registration Act of 1996, changes to precincts and related election structures are prohibited once the election period has begun.
In addition, COMELEC noted that certain election processes—such as assemblies and conventions for the selection of Parliamentary Sectoral Representatives—cannot proceed without a legally fixed election date, based on existing legal and judicial guidelines.
Following the postponement, COMELEC also set aside and terminated all ongoing election-related activities under Resolution Nos. 11181 and 11184. These include the official calendar of activities and the periods covering prohibited acts tied to the March 30 BARMM parliamentary polls.
With this development, COMELEC confirmed that the BARMM Parliamentary Elections will no longer take place on March 30, 2026, and will remain on hold until Congress enacts a law establishing a new election schedule.
Jan 28, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
