VOTER REGISTRATION. Residents wait for their turn to register during the inaugural two-day Special Register Anywhere Program and satellite registration in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday (April 15, 2024). The Commission on Elections recorded 1,586 voter registrants on April 15 and 16. (PNA photo by Ferdinand Patinio)
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) declared it is ready for its parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously with the midterm polls in May 2025.
At the same time, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said there were 1,586 voter registrants during the inaugural two-day Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) and satellite registration inside Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat and Camp Abubakar in Barira in Maguindanao del Norte on April 15 and 16.
“Sa side namin (On our side), we have accepted the reality na kailangan ng election sa BARMM. Kaya (that election is needed in BARMM. So) we are preparing for our political party and the elections,” BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“Para this coming elections, kasali na talaga lahat ng Bangsamoro, maging sa panig ng gobyerno or Moro Islamic Liberation Front (So this coming election, Bangsamoro is really included, either on the part of the government or MILF),” he added.
Comelec chair George Garcia assured they are prepared to conduct the parliamentary polls in BARMM next year.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, pinaghahandaan namin. Kaya din minadali namin ang pagpasa ng (we are preparing. So that’s why we are fast-tracked the passage of the) Bangsamoro election code,” Garcia said.
He said the decision on whether to extend anew the Bangsamoro Transition Authority is not up to them.
“Tuloy na tuloy ang Bangsamoro election as far as the Comelec is concerned (The Bangsamoro election will go on as scheduled),” he added.
During the two-day SRAP and satellite registration, Garcia said minors aged 15 to 16 tried to register for the 2025 elections.
“Wala tayong nakitang bad faith or masamang intensyon doon. Siguro mali lang ‘yung information na nakarating sa kanila (We did not see any bad faith or bad intentions there. Maybe they received the wrong information),” Garcia said.
In the previous registration, the Comelec allowed 15 to 17-year-olds to register for the Sangguinang Kabataan (youth) polls held in October last year.
Garcia said the poll body will continue to reach out to far-flung communities until registration ends on Sept. 30. (PNA)
