The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued Resolution No. 11235 outlining a two-step selection process to determine the two Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) sectoral representatives to the Bangsamoro Parliament.
Tribal Assemblies and Regional Inter-Tribal Convention
According to the resolution, the process will be conducted at two levels: the Tribal Assemblies and the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention. All Tribal Assemblies must be held before the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention, which shall be concluded no later than seven calendar days before the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election (BPE).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is tentatively scheduling the Tribal Assemblies from July 27 to August 9, and the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention from August 24 to September 4.
Selection of Delegates and Nominees
The Tribal Assembly is where each NMIP community will convene to choose their delegates and alternates to the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention, as well as to select their NMIP nominees and alternates as NMIP Representatives to the Bangsamoro Parliament. Each tribal assembly will result in the determination of 10 delegates and five alternates, and the determination of two NMIP nominees—one male and one female—along with two alternates.
The Regional Inter-Tribal Convention will serve as the forum where all NMIP communities select two representatives from the list of nominees, again ensuring one male and one female, to serve as sectoral representatives in the Bangsamoro Parliament. Only the two selected nominees and 10 delegates per NMIP community may participate in the convention.
Proclamation and Implementation
Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention is the venue where the two NMIP sectoral representatives are determined. The Comelec stated that the names of the two selected representatives must be submitted to the Commission no later than seven days before the BPE. The NMIP representatives will be proclaimed by the Comelec simultaneously with the proclamation of other members of Parliament elected through the BPE.
