The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections will now be held on March 31 next year instead of October 13.
The change comes after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the postponement of the polls due to alleged legal violations.
In a press briefing, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said they will consult with election service providers regarding the new schedule, particularly concerning the leasing of voting machines.
He explained that whether or not the elections took place this month, the Comelec would still have to pay the providers — and the issue now is that they may need to pay again in March once the BARMM polls push through.
This marks the second postponement of the parliamentary elections, which were initially set for May 12, 2025.
