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GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Regional party UBJP backs special elections for Bangsamoro seats
A regional parliament political party running in the 2025 Bangsamoro elections on Thursday expressed openness on the conduct of a possible special election to fill vacancies for the seven seats originally assigned to Sulu. Members of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) on Thursday arrived at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila to meet with poll chief George Erwin Garcia regarding the status of the first-ever parliamentary elections. UBJP president Alhaj Murad Ebrahim said Garcia reassured them that the Comelec is ready to hold the elections on October 13 despite the pending decision on the reapportionment of the Sulu seats. 'We're very happy that the Chairman officially assured us na talagang matutuloy na ang elections sa October,' said Ebrahim. The Bangsamoro polls was reset from May 12 to October 13, 2025 after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in February signed into law the measure postponing the first-ever parliamentary elections. The suspension came months after the Supreme Court (SC), in September 2024, upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM. The Court denied motions seeking the reversal of the decision in November 2024. The SC ruling necessitated the redistribution of the seven vacated seats originally allocated to Sulu under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. However, the Bangsamoro government has yet to issue a decision on the reallocation. 'We will try our best na ma-comply namin, but 'yun na nga kung hindi na talaga ma-comply… baka magkaroon nalang ng special elections,' Ebrahim added. (We will try our best to comply, but if we cannot comply, there may be special elections.) Mohagher Iqbal, member of the parliament and UBJP vice-president, said the report may be submitted and deliberated by the parliament next week. 'In terms of legislation, we are ready for the committee report and once na ma-submit sa parliament, syempre id-discuss ang committee report, there will be an interpellation at pagbo-botohan. Every district, kailangan pag-botohan yan eh. We cannot lobby together and decide once and for all. Kailangan isa-isahin po yan,' said Iqbal. (In terms of legislation, we are ready for the committee report and once submitted, there will be interpellation and voting. That is for every district. We cannot lobby together and decide once and for all.) 'We can expect by next week, may official submission sa parliament ang mags-start deliberations,' he said. (We can expect that by next week, there will be an official submission.) The Comelec previously said it will continue with the preparations for the BARMM polls with 73 seats. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: One-year appointment ban on losing candidates in effect
The Commission on Elections reiterated Monday that unsuccessful Eleksyon 2025 could not be appointed to any government positions one year after the polls. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia made the remarks after a losing local candidate posted on social media a photo with government officials, thanking them for the opportunity to serve again. The post has been take down. Sought for comment, an executive assistant of one of the officials seen in the photo told GMA News Online that no appointment has been issued yet because of the ban. "Nakalagay sa ating Saligang Batas saka sa Election Code na bawal ang kahit anong appointment sa pamahalaan isang taon pagkatapos ang elections," Garcia told reporters. (The Constitution and the Election Code prohibits appointment one year after the polls.) "Kung ano ang nature ng appointment, maaaring 'yan ay debatable. Maaaring subject sa interpretation pero kami basta appointment, kino-consider namin na prohibited. Kung paano nila ide-depensa ang sarili nila sila ang bahala diyan. Nasa sa kanila yan," he added. (The nature of the appointment may be debatable or subject to interpretation but for the Comelec, we consider all appointments as prohibited. How they will defend themselves is up to them.) The 1987 Constitution states that 'no candidate who has lost in any election shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries'. Violators, including those who issued the appointment, may be subject to criminal, administrative, and civil charges, according to Garcia. 'Inuulit natin, lahat ng natalo sa halalan, 'di pupwedeng maitalaga sa pamahalaan one year after ng elections,' he added. (Again, all losing candidates are not allowed to hold government positions a year after the polls.) —with Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec to implement early voting hours for 2025 BSKE
The Commission on Elections is set to implement the early voting hours for the vulnerable sector during the 2025 Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE). Under Resolution No. 11154, the poll body said that senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) may cast their votes for the BSKE from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. at their designated voting centers. Regular voting hours will start from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 'In order to accommodate PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant women, the Commission implements the early voting hours during the 2025 BSKE nationwide for a smoother, safer, and more accessible voting experience to the vulnerable sectors,' the resolution reads. The Comelec implemented the early voting hour policy during the recent May midterm elections. Voter registration to proceed in August Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the 10-day nationwide voter registration slated from August 1 to August 10 will proceed amid the looming decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on a proposed measure seeking to extend the term of office for barangay and SK officials from three to four years, and postpone the elections to the first Monday of November 2026. The bicameral conference ratified the committee report in July. 'Ang ating impormasyon, maaaring ngayong araw pa lamang maitaas sa ating Pangulo mula sa Kongreso ang draft ng mismong panukalang batas na nage-extend o nagpi-fix ng termino ng barangay at SK. May posibilidad na ito ay mapirmahan this week,' said Garcia. (We were informed the Office of President may receive a copy of the bill today. It might be signed this week.) 'Just the same, kami ay nag-schedule ng 10 araw na registration ng mga botante. Kung ito ay magiging ganap na batas, 'yung pagpostpone ng halalan, walang magbabago sa 10 araw namin na registration,' he added. (Just the same, we set a 10-day voter registration in August. This will not change despite the possible postponement.) The 2025 BSKE is set on December 1. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Comelec to resume voter registration for BSKE this August
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will reopen voter registration from August 1 to 10, 2025, in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled on December 1, 2025. Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia announced on Wednesday that the en banc has already approved the 10-day nationwide registration period, particularly to accommodate youth voters aged 15 to 17 who are qualified to vote in the SK elections. 'This registration is critical, especially for youth voters. We will open the process from August 1 to 10 so those aged 15 to 17 can be included,' Garcia said. Comelec initially planned to hold the registration in July. However, it was deferred due to developments in Congress—specifically the approval of a bicameral conference committee report pushing to extend the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years and move the elections to the first Monday of November 2026. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to decide whether to sign or veto the measure. Garcia explained that they cannot afford to take chances in case the proposed postponement is blocked or a restraining order is issued. 'If the elections push through on December 1 or if there's a sudden court order, we need to ensure that youth voters are registered,' he said. 'We're confident we can meet the timeline. And even if the elections don't happen this year, at least we've already registered new voters,' Garcia added. To expand accessibility, Comelec is also launching a 'Register Anywhere Program' (RAP) within Metro Manila. The initiative aims to allow voter registration in high-traffic areas such as hospitals, call centers, and bus terminals. 'This will be rolled out first in NCR as a pilot test. If it succeeds, we'll expand this program during future nationwide registration drives,' Garcia explained. The 2025 BSKE remains set for December 1, unless Congress or the President officially changes the schedule.
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec urges public to review Eleksyon 2025 bets' SOCEs
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday called on the public to review and analyze the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of national candidates in Eleksyon 2025. 'Ang SOCE ay amin pong ibinabalita sa ating mga kababayan, available na po 'yan sa atin pong website,' Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said. (We are announcing the publishing of the SOCEs on our website.) 'Marapat po sana na 'yung mga kababayan natin makita natin, tingnan natin, ma-review natin, ma-analyze natin para kahit paano makita natin, kahit man lang per item yung comparison ng kanilang mga sinubmit, at kung ito ba'y makatotohanan o kung may kasinungalingan 'yung mga nakalagay sa SOCE,' said Garcia. (We are hoping the public may review and analyze the items indicated on the SOCEs so they'll see if they are realistic or not.) The Comelec published the candidates' SOCEs on their website on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The deadline for the submission was set on June 11. Of the 66 senatorial candidates, only 60 submitted their SOCEs. A total of 29 political parties and 141 partylists, meanwhile, complied with the requirement. Based on the SOCEs, Senator Camille Villar was the biggest spender among senatorial candidates in Eleksyon 2025, reporting a total of P179.6 million worth of campaign expenditures for her senatorial bid. A total of 13 other senatorial candidates reported spending over P100 million for their respective campaigns.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
