Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

A manifestation of intent to participate is the document by which a political party, coalition, or sectoral organization formally signifies its intention to take part in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. For regional political parties, the intent to participate is expressed through registration and accreditation with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) through the Bangsamoro Registration and Accreditation Committee (BRAC). For sectoral organizations and sectoral wings of political parties, participation begins with certification by the appropriate certifying ministry or office. The sections below set out the requirements and the order in which they must be completed.

Who must file a manifestation of intent to participate

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 provides that all existing political parties or organizations, including coalitions of political parties, intending to participate in the first BARMM Parliamentary Election shall register and seek new accreditation with the COMELEC through BRAC under the new eligibility requirements set forth in the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.

The same law states that failure to secure accreditation under the new law shall bar a party from participating in the electoral process. This makes accreditation a condition precedent, not a formality. A party that does not complete the process cannot field candidates or participate in the party system election.

Step 1: Establish the party and meet the membership requirement

Under Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88, a regional political party is established by at least five thousand (5,000) members who are residents and registered voters in the Bangsamoro. These members must be distributed throughout the majority of the provinces and cities composing the Bangsamoro territory.

The party must also establish provincial and city chapters in all the provinces in the Bangsamoro. A provincial chapter is required to have municipal chapters in the majority of the municipalities in that province.

Step 2: Prepare the registration requirements

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 requires a party to submit a notarized list of at least five thousand (5,000) members. In that list, the members manifest their collective decision to register the party by affixing their names, signatures, and other pertinent details as determined by the COMELEC.

The same law lists other registration requirements, which appear as lettered items in the amendatory provision. Parties should secure the full checklist from COMELEC and BRAC before filing, since an incomplete submission may delay or defeat the application.

Step 3: Comply with the nomination and gender requirements

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 provides that regional political parties shall ensure that at least thirty percent (30%) of the party nominees are women. As far as practicable, such parties shall ensure that at least one (1) in every three (3) party nominees is a woman.

Step 4: Sectoral organizations — secure certification

Sectoral organizations and sectoral wings of political parties must submit to the appropriate certifying ministries and offices a verified petition for certification signed by its head or any duly authorized representative. They must also submit a verified list of members and officers with their names, signatures, and other pertinent details; the constitution and by-laws; the platform, policies, principles, and legislative agenda for the sector; and such other requirements as the certifying ministry or office may require.

Upon receipt, the certifying ministry or office immediately determines the completeness of the application. An incomplete submission is subject to outright denial without prejudice to refiling. Once complete, the office must act on the application within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt.

The certification is issued upon the lapse of the fifteen (15)-day evaluation period, unless a justifiable cause exists to warrant denial. No application may be denied without notifying the concerned organization and specifying the just cause or legal ground. Failure to act within the prescribed period is a ground for disciplinary action against the erring official.

What happens after certification

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 revoked and cancelled all certifications previously issued to sectoral organizations and sectoral wings of political parties by the appropriate certifying ministries, offices, and agencies. A new certification process must be undertaken pursuant to the amendments.

For the first parliamentary election, the election of sectoral representatives, except the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, is synchronized with the first Parliamentary Elections and automated in accordance with the automated election system. Candidates for sectoral representatives must be members of a regional political party, or a sectoral party or organization, duly accredited by the COMELEC, after having been certified by the appropriate ministry, office, or agency on the basis of their track record in advocacy for the respective sectoral concern.

How party representation seats are allocated

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 provides that party representatives are members of registered regional political parties that receive at least two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the total valid votes cast for the party system election. Only parties receiving at least two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the total valid votes cast for the party representation election are qualified to participate in the allocation of party representation seats.

Frequently asked questions

What is a manifestation of intent to participate in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections? It is the formal step by which a party or organization signifies its intention to join the elections — through registration and accreditation with COMELEC through BRAC for political parties, and through certification by the appropriate ministry or office for sectoral organizations.

How long does the certifying ministry have to act on a sectoral certification application? Fifteen (15) days from receipt of a complete application, a period the law describes as non-extendible.

What happens if a party fails to secure accreditation? Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88 states that failure to secure accreditation under the new law shall bar a party from participating in the electoral process.

Practical takeaways

• Political parties must register and seek new accreditation with COMELEC through BRAC; old certifications do not carry over.
• A regional political party needs at least 5,000 members who are residents and registered voters in the Bangsamoro, with chapters across the region.
• The membership list must be notarized and must show members' names, signatures, and other details required by COMELEC.
• Sectoral organizations must obtain fresh certification; the certifying office has 15 non-extendible days to act on a complete application.
• At least 30% of party nominees must be women, with at least one woman in every three nominees as far as practicable.

Primary sources

The rules discussed above are drawn from the following issuances, embedded here in full for your reference.

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 88Open in Law LibraryDownload PDF

This article is general information and not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer or ask ASG Legal AI.