How to Register a Political Party or Sectoral Organization in the Bangsamoro Parliament

Registration in the Bangsamoro is a two-track process. A regional political party files a verified petition for registration with the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO) through the Bangsamoro Registration and Accreditation Committee (BRAC), which recommends action to the COMELEC en banc. A sectoral organization — an accredited aggrupation of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, settler communities, women, youth, Ulama, or traditional leaders — is registered and accredited through the same BRAC route. The BRAC must transmit the petition with its recommendation within sixty (60) days from receipt. Only parties and organizations that comply with the requirements of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code are registered or accredited.

Who may register as a regional political party

Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35), a regional political party is an organization formed by a group of citizens in the Bangsamoro on the basis of the same ideology and common aspirations, aiming to have members elected to the Parliament and the local constituent units.

A party must be established by at least ten thousand (10,000) members who are residents and registered voters in the Bangsamoro. These members must be distributed throughout the different provinces and cities comprising the Bangsamoro territory. Every party must also establish provincial and city chapters in all provinces and cities, and municipal chapters in the majority of the municipalities comprising each province.

The step-by-step registration process

1. Prepare the verified petition. The head of the party or a duly authorized representative signs a verified petition containing the party's full name, principal place of business and postal address, date and place of organization, extent of constituency or membership, and the required declarations — among them, that the party upholds the Constitution, is not a religious sect or denomination, is not supported by or accepting financial contributions from any foreign government or agency, and will not pursue its goals through violence or other unlawful means.
2. Assemble the supporting documents. These include a verified list of the members of the executive, general party, and membership committees and the heads of the provincial, city, and municipal chapters; a notarized list of at least ten thousand (10,000) members manifesting their collective decision to register; the constitution and by-laws; the program of government, platform, policies, and principles; the declaration of political creed or code of political ethics; the party's statutes; the party's women's agenda; the minutes of constituent meetings; and proof of payment of the proper fees prescribed by the COMELEC.
3. File with the BEO through the BRAC. All parties intending to register submit applications to the BEO through the BRAC. The BRAC receives the petition, ensures compliance with the requirements and qualifications in the Code, and forwards the petition with its recommendation for approval or disapproval to the COMELEC en banc.
4. Wait for the BRAC recommendation. The BRAC must submit the petition with its recommendation not later than sixty (60) days from receipt. Registration is granted by the COMELEC en banc.
5. Comply with continuing requirements. Compliance with the minimum number of members, mandatory bodies or mechanisms, and mandatory party activities are continuing requirements. Failure to comply is a ground for disqualification to participate in parliamentary elections and/or dissolution of the party as may be determined by the COMELEC through the BRAC.

A party already registered with the COMELEC before the effectivity of the Code is not required to register anew, provided it complies with the additional requirements of the Code in relation to registration.

Mandatory bodies the party must maintain

The organizational structure of a party must provide for mandatory bodies or mechanisms, including a general party committee, an executive committee, a membership committee, a nomination committee, a finance committee, an arbitral committee, and a women and youth committee. Local chapters in the province, city, and majority of the municipalities per province serve as the grassroots of the party.

Elections of the members of these bodies must be conducted by secret ballot, and all regional political parties must ensure that women and youth are duly represented in their roster of officers, as reflected in their constitution and by-laws.

Sectoral organizations and reserved seats

The Parliament reserves eight (8) seats for sectoral representatives. Sectoral organizations are duly accredited aggrupations of people belonging to the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, settler communities, women, youth, Ulama, and traditional leaders who are entitled to the reserved seats. The sectoral representation seats are reserved to those same sectors.

A sectoral organization seeking accreditation files its petition through the BRAC in the same manner as a political party, with the COMELEC en banc acting on the BRAC's recommendation.

Frequently asked questions

How many members does a regional political party need to register in the Bangsamoro? At least ten thousand (10,000) members who are residents and registered voters in the Bangsamoro, distributed throughout the different provinces and cities of the region.

How long does the BRAC have to act on a petition for registration? The BRAC must submit the petition with its recommendation to the COMELEC not later than sixty (60) days from receipt.

Does a party already registered with COMELEC need to register again? No. Regional political parties already registered with the COMELEC prior to the effectivity of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code are not required to register anew, provided they comply with the Code's additional registration requirements.

Practical takeaways

• File the verified petition with the BEO through the BRAC, not directly with the COMELEC en banc.
• Build the membership base first: 10,000 members who are residents and registered voters, spread across the region's provinces and cities.
• Establish provincial, city, and municipal chapters as required, and organize the mandatory party bodies before filing.
• Keep the constitution and by-laws, women's agenda, and platform complete — these are required attachments, not optional papers.
• Treat compliance as continuing: failure to maintain the minimum membership, mandatory bodies, and mandatory party activities can lead to disqualification or dissolution.

Primary sources

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

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35Open in Law LibraryDownload PDF

Petition for Certification of BFP-Youth Sector as Sectoral Wing of BFPOpen 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.