THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said election-day privileges were granted to the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) for being the dominant majority party and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) for being the dominant minority party in the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary election.
Comelec Resolution No. 11248, promulgated on July 8, also identified nine other major regional parliamentary political parties that will receive official election privileges. The dominant majority and dominant minority parties are entitled to priority access to election returns, electronic transmission of precinct results immediately after voting closes, seats as nonvoting members of provincial, city and municipal boards of canvassers, and priority in appointing official watchers in polling places and canvassing centers. Comelec said the accreditation is mandated under election laws to safeguard transparency, strengthen party participation and ensure credible canvassing during automated elections. The Commission evaluated 11 regional parliamentary political parties that applied for accreditation using three criteria: their ability to field candidates for both party representatives and district representatives, the extent of their municipal and city organizations across BARMM, and the number of women candidates and nominees they fielded. UBJP topped the rankings with 93.14 points after posting the highest score in fielding candidates and maintaining one of the broadest organizational networks in the Bangsamoro region. BFP finished second with 88.25 points to earn recognition as the dominant minority regional parliamentary political party. Completing the roster of accredited major regional parliamentary political parties are Bangsamoro Party, Moro Ako Party, Bangsamoro Empowerment and Social Transformation Party, Mahardika Party, Partido Bangon Bangsamoro, BARMM Grand Coalition, Indigenous, Settlers, SAMA and Minorities Alliance Party, People’s Consultative Party and AL-ITTIHAD-Ungaya sa Kagawib Nu Bangsamoro. Since only 11 parties applied for accreditation, the Comelec said the remaining nine automatically qualified as major regional parliamentary political parties after the dominant majority and dominant minority parties were determined. The Commission reinforced its policy of promoting gender inclusion by making women’s participation a key factor in the accreditation process. Political parties fielding at least 30 percent women candidates and nominees received the maximum score under the gender criterion, consistent with the Magna Carta of Women and Bangsamoro electoral laws. Under the resolution, UBJP will receive the sixth printed copy of the election returns generated by automated counting machines, while BFP will receive the seventh copy. Both parties will also receive electronic precinct results immediately after the close of voting. The nine accredited major parties will each receive succeeding official copies of election returns according to their ranking and may appoint one official watcher in every polling place and canvassing center whenever practicable. The accreditation carries practical significance because official watchers are allowed to observe voting, counting and canvassing proceedings, helping political parties monitor compliance with election rules and immediately raise concerns over possible irregularities. The Sept. 14 elections will mark the first regular parliamentary elections under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, replacing the region’s interim Bangsamoro Parliament with officials elected directly by voters. The exercise is widely viewed as a crucial test of the region’s democratic transition following the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the creation of the BARMM in 2019.
