MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is gearing up for its inaugural parliamentary elections, set to take place concurrently with the Philippines' midterm polls in May 2025. This follows a successful two-day voter registration event held in the region, marking significant preparatory steps for the upcoming elections.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) and satellite registration conducted on April 15 and 16 at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat and Camp Abubakar in Barira recorded 1,586 new registrants. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, speaking at a press conference, emphasized the region's readiness for the elections, noting the inclusive participation of all Bangsamoro people, whether they align with the government or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Comelec Chair George Garcia affirmed the election body's readiness to oversee the parliamentary elections in BARMM. He highlighted the expedited passage of the Bangsamoro election code as a critical step in their preparations. Garcia also clarified that any decision regarding the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority would be beyond Comelec's purview but reiterated that the elections would proceed as planned.
During the registration event, Garcia noted that minors aged 15 to 16 had attempted to register for the 2025 elections, likely due to a misunderstanding, as they were previously allowed to register for the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections last October. He stated that there was no malicious intent behind these registrations.
Comelec plans to continue its outreach to remote communities to ensure comprehensive voter registration, which remains open until September 30, 2024. This proactive approach aims to facilitate broad participation in BARMM's historic parliamentary election.