BTA passes Bangsamoro Electoral Code —DND

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament passed the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35 or the Bangsamoro Electoral Code on March 8, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Wednesday.

According to the DND, the region’s electoral code was unanimously approved with 64 affirmative votes.

The Bangsamoro Electoral Code will allow democratic participation in the local and regional elections, the DND said.

It would also open the creation of political parties in the region with representations from women, youth, indigenous people, settler communities, traditional leaders, and the Ulama.

The DND said the electoral code included rules on changing political party affiliations, coalition-building, regional party funding, prosecution on election offenses such as vote-buying and vote-selling.

It also prohibits the regional political party’s nomination of candidates related within the second degree of consanguinity and affinity, the DND added. 

The first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government will be held and synchronized with the 2025 national elections as stipulated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law, according to the Bangsamoro Parliament. —VAL, GMA Integrated News