Comelec may extend control in 2 BARMM towns

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may extend its direct control over two towns in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao until after the BARMM parliamentary polls are conducted in October.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is now assessing the possibility of extending its direct supervision over Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte and in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.

The two towns were placed under Comelec control in the recently concluded midterm polls due to cases of violence reported in the area.

Garcia said Comelec control should be lifted at the end of the election period on June 11. However, the poll body continues to receive reports of violence in the two municipalities.

“Clan wars or rido continue to be reported. The clashes between families in the past election might affect the parliamentary polls,” Garcia said. 

He noted that the existence of private armed groups and loose firearms could still be a source of election-related violence.

Meanwhile, the Comelec will not be holding a voter registration in BARMM for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December.

Garcia explained that the Comelec could not conduct the voter registration activities in BARMM areas because of the parliamentary elections on Oct. 13. The law prohibits the conduct of registration within 120 days before a regular election and 90 days prior to a special election.

“We think the numbers (to be disenfranchised) won’t be high. Of course it is never our duty to disenfranchise voters,” Garcia said. “We may violate the law if we conduct voter registration in the BARMM.”

For the May 2025 polls, there were about 2.3 million registered voters in the BARMM.