THE election period for the October 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) will start today, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday, 60 days before the country’s first-ever parliamentary polls.
As provided under Comelec Resolution No. 11149, the BPE election period will run from August 14 to October 28.
During the election period, the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons is prohibited, unless authorized in writing by the poll body.
Also prohibited are the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec; and the organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces.
The suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officials; and the transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, except upon prior approval of the Comelec, are also prohibited.
The alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct is also prohibited during the election period.
With BARMM now under the election period, the Comelec said election checkpoints shall be established beginning today.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the checkpoints shall implement rules, particularly on the imposition of the gun ban.
“You can expect these checkpoints to be established throughout the region, so there will be slight disruptions,” he said.
Garcia said the imposition of Comelec control in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur will likely be lifted by the poll body.
“For the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election, we will not be placing any areas under Comelec control, for now,” he said.
