Manila, Jan. 15 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has proposed to Congress that a new date be set for the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) in 2026, should the March 30 schedule fail to push through.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia on Wednesday said holding the BPE in 2027 would hamper preparations for the 2028 presidential elections.

"If it is possible, maybe in 2026, we can have the elections. We can't do it next year because the Comelec is already very busy preparing for the national and local elections," he said in a statement.

"We have submitted a bill to the Lower House, to the chairperson of the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms. If we cannot proceed by March 30, we will wait for a law to be...