The IEMC fully supports the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in its decision to halt preparations for the October 13 elections until the Supreme Court clarifies the implications of its order temporarily enjoining the implementation of BAA 77. Comelec is correct in asserting that neither BAA 77 nor the repealed BAA 58 can serve as a legal foundation for the parliamentary district elections scheduled for October 13.
IEMC strongly urges the Supreme Court, Comelec and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to immediately resolve the outstanding legal issues surrounding the Regional Parliamentary Elections in the BARMM so that the elections can proceed on October 13, or at the earliest possible date thereafter.
It is crucial to emphasize that repeated postponements of elections in the BARMM undermine the integrity of the electoral process and erode the public’s trust in elections as a vital means of citizen expression and representation in governance.
IEMC is a Comelec-recognized monitor of the BARMM Regional elections. It is composed of Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC), Notre Dame University (NDU), Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC), Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), Conflict and Climate Action Asia (CCAA), and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
