16 Bangsamoro political parties apply for accreditation

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

April 30, 2026 | 12:00am

As filing of COCs for BARMM polls nears

MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen political parties have applied for accreditation for the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to the Commission on Elections.

The Comelec earlier said it would complete the evaluation of the applications before today, in time for the filing of certificates of candidacy from May 5 to 7.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the evaluation process has been smooth.

In response to a query about the status of the application for accreditation of the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Garcia said the petition would undergo due process even as an appeal opposing the MILF party was filed.

He said the Comelec required the concerned party to submit its reply to allegations raised in the appeal.

Garcia said the Comelec would evaluate all arguments before deciding on the matter, noting that an objection does not automatically result in the denial of the accreditation.

He said the Comelec aims to resolve the matter before the filing of certificates of candidacy starts.

Garcia gave assurance that the process would be fair, with both parties given the opportunity to be heard.

The Comelec said it is working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police  (PNP) to ensure that the conduct of the first BARMM parliamentary election as well as the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will be smooth, peaceful and orderly.

Garcia said the simultaneous preparations for both elections would improve coordination among concerned agencies and reduce poll spendings.

The Bangsamoro parliamentary election will be conducted on Sept. 14, while the barangay and SK polls will be held on Nov. 2.

9,000 cops to secure polls

Up to 9,000 police officers will secure the first BARMM parliamentary election, according to the PNP.

At a press conference on Tuesday, BARMM police director Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman said the security contingent would include augmentation forces from police regional offices in Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and Caraga as well as specialized police units such as the Special Action Force, the Maritime Group and the Highway Patrol Group.

De Guzman said they decided to tap officers from Mindanao only for the augmentation forces in order not to disrupt security preparations of police units in Luzon and the Visayas for the barangay and SK elections.

“Immediately after the BARMM parliamentary election comes the barangay and SK polls. We expect police personnel assigned in the augmentation forces to return to their respective regions to secure the twin elections,” De Guzman said.

Apart from the PNP, the AFP will also deploy around 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers to secure the BARMM polls.

The Philippine Coast Guard is also part of the security contingent.

De Guzman said that police would monitor the movement of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group and other lawless elements to prevent any plan for a terror attack during the elections.

He said the PNP would ask political clans in the Bangsamoro region to help ensure a smooth, peaceful and orderly BARMM elections. — Emmanuel Tupas