The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has issued the official calendar of activities and list of prohibited acts for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), scheduled on September 14.
Under Resolution No. 11214, promulgated on April 7, the poll body detailed key timelines and regulations as preparations ramp up for the region’s first parliamentary elections under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023.
The elections were initially slated for 2025 but were deferred to 2026 following the signing of a law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. adjusting the electoral schedule. Malacañang had earlier affirmed it would defer to COMELEC in determining the final timetable.
Key Dates and Activities
- Filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC): May 5–7, 2026
- Campaign Period: July 30–September 12, followed by a 24-hour campaign silence
- Election Day: September 14, 2026
- SOCE Filing Deadline: October 14, 2026
- Election Period: July 16–September 29, with nationwide gun ban and restrictions on private armed groups
Prohibited Acts
COMELEC emphasized that several activities are strictly prohibited during the campaign period. Candidates are barred from distributing donations, appointing special police or confidential agents, hiring new government employees, or disbursing public funds outside authorized transactions. Public works construction and the issuance of treasury warrants will also face restrictions.
On September 13, a liquor ban will be implemented alongside a total prohibition on campaigning and the distribution of free goods or services. On election day, all forms of campaigning and vote solicitation are prohibited within and around polling precincts. Activities such as cockfights, horse racing, and the operation of stalls within a 30-meter radius of voting centers are likewise not allowed.
The poll body reiterated that violations such as the sale or consumption of alcohol during restricted periods, use of armored vehicles, unauthorized security personnel, multiple voting, and vote substitution are strictly banned throughout the election period.