Manual election in BARMM could be feasible in 2026

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Monday, Laudinagco said that, “The Comelec has prepared two contingency plans. We are studying the possibility of holding a manual election to comply with the Supreme Court decision.” 

The second plan, he said, is for the Comelec to change the date, if there is really not enough time to do it in March.

Laudiangco said the Comelec believes that a manual election is feasible for BARMM residents to vote for a regional parliamentary political party and a district parliamentary representative. 

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority was given by the Supreme Court until Oct. 30 to come up with a new law on the redistricting of BARMM. 

The Supreme Court previously stopped the automated BARMM parliamentary vote set for Oct. 13 after declaring the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 58 and 77 unconstitutional.

The Comelec will be left with limited time to prepare if the law is crafted after Oct. 30, Laudinagco said.