Bangsamoro Election Commission Orders Removal of Illegal Campaign Materials

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Maguindanao del Norte, led by provincial election supervisor Mohammad Nabil Mutia, issued a directive on August 1 ordering all candidates, regional parties and sectoral groups participating in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections to take down campaign posters, streamers and other propaganda that have been placed outside the designated common poster areas. The order cites illegal postings on trees, electric posts, street lamps, government structures, private property and oversized non‑recyclable materials.

Comelec announced a synchronized province‑wide operation, “Oplan Baklas,” to be carried out on August 3, targeting the removal of the prohibited materials across Maguindanao del Norte, including Cotabato City. Candidates who fail to comply may face charges under election laws. The directive comes as the campaign period for the September 14, 2026 parliamentary elections, the first of its kind in BARMM, progresses.