BARMM polls will mark establishment of democratic governance

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections are far more than a technical exercise but it is the contribution of the commission to the peace process and the establishment of genuine democratic governance in the region.

Garcia said this as the poll body announced that preparations for the elections in the region were underway.

The commission had already printed more than 2.3 million ballots for the elections, which have been postponed more than once.

Garcia said the BARMM parliamentary elections will be followed by the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 2 Nov.

The upcoming electoral exercises aim to showcase the commission’s vision of enhancing the voting experience through elections that reflect the genuine will of the people.

The poll chief cited the 12 May 2025 national and local elections, when, for the first time in the country’s history, internet voting was used by overseas Filipinos.

It was made available in 77 posts around the world and remained open for 30 days.

More than 99 percent of election returns during the 2025 elections were transmitted to Comelec servers within hours after the closing of precincts.

Garcia said the process was open to public scrutiny through source code reviews by various interest groups.

Accredited during the 2025 polls were the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections to safeguard the vote, while local and foreign observers were welcomed.

The observers recognized greater transparency and a more consultative approach in the administration of the electoral process, and the success was attributed to the collective efforts of dedicated Comelec personnel, as well as the vigilance of the Filipino people.

Garcia said that whetever the form of the government, the role of a Commission on Elections is beyond question, as he noted the authority of an elected leader comes from the trust placed in that leader by the people.

Garcia said the BARMM parliamentary polls are a historical electoral event because they will be the first regular election to determine the members of the Bangsamoro Parliament.