The Commission on Elections-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (COMELEC-BARMM) wants aspirants and parties to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 parliamentary polls one at a time to avoid tension.

As of Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the second day of filing, no COC was filed at three Comelec offices at BARMM.

Latest data from COMELEC-BARMM showed that for district representatives, only one filed in Maguindanao del Norte; two in Maguindanao del Sur; four in Lanao del Sur; one in Lanao del Norte; and three each in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

For the regional political party seat, only one filed a manifestation of intent to participate in the May 12, 2025 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

The documents will still be assessed by the poll body.

“We are evaluating the same for purpose of requiring if the insufficient or incomplete of requirements. We will require them to publish especially yung list of nominees,” COMELEC-BARMM Director, Atty. Ray Sumalipao, said.

COMELEC-BARMM also explained who should be accommodated first in case two or more parties will file their COCs at the same time.

“We cannot do two things at the same time. Kung dalawa ang darating kung sino ang mauna ang mauna then iserve yung the second. Hindi yun bawal….,” Sumalipao added.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 police personnel were deployed at the COMELEC offices in BARMM to ensure a peaceful and orderly filing of COC.

“Actually, yung security namin ay well calibrated. Kung makita natin na medyo may gulo, siyempre magdadag tayo. So far, wala akong nakikitang indication na magiging magulo ang election nato, ang filing nato,” Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) Director, Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz, said.

The last day of COC filing is on Saturday, November 9, 2024.