Bangsamoro prepares for historic first parliamentary elections amid misinformation

The Philippines' Commission on Elections (COMELEC) says it is 95% ready to conduct the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region's first parliamentary elections on 14 September 2026. Ballot boxes, voting machines and other paraphernalia are being moved to pre‑designated hubs, and a two‑week training program for 20,000‑21,000 teachers, principals and support staff will begin next week. About 3,000 police personnel from Regions 9, 11 and 12 are being certified to operate vote‑counting machines if needed.

COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin M. Garcia warned that misinformation – including false claims that the Supreme Court ordered a postponement – is the biggest challenge. Legislative secretary Gerardo Concussion III of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority urged voters to rely only on official sources. A “train‑the‑trainers” session on the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, attended by roughly 170 officials, emphasized accurate interpretation of rules such as the 2.5 % vote threshold for parties.