MANILA — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is bracing for a significant influx of candidates as the filing period for the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) enters its final 48 hours. Following a modest turnout on the first day, the poll body announced on Wednesday, May 6, that it expects more than 300 individuals to formalize their bids for Regional Parliamentary District Representatives before the window closes on Thursday.
COMELEC Chairperson George Garcia disclosed that the Commission is projecting approximately 320 aspirants to submit their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) within the designated period of May 5 to 7.
He emphasized the anticipated competitiveness of the historic polls, noting the high level of interest across the region’s diverse districts. “We expect at least 10 (COCs) filed for each district,” Garcia said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
A total of 32 parliamentary district representatives will be elected during the BPE, which is scheduled for September 14. The distribution of these seats across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) includes nine seats for Lanao del Sur, five each for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, four each for Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, three for Cotabato City, and two for the Special Geographic Area.
On Tuesday, they reported that only 22 COCs were filed across the different parliamentary districts, suggesting that the vast majority of the anticipated 320 candidates will likely submit their documents during the final two days.
Garcia had previously warned that no extensions would be granted to the Thursday deadline, citing a “very tight schedule” for the preparations of the September polls. Election officials are currently on high alert at the various filing centers to manage the expected surge of aspirants and their supporters as the deadline looms.|
