Manila, July 16 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to proceed with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) with only 73 seats to be voted for.

In a statement, the poll body said it decided to hold the BPE on Oct. 13 despite the absence of a legislation reallocating the seven Bangsamoro Parliament seats formerly assigned to the province of Sulu, pursuant to Comelec Minute Resolution No. 25-0738 dated June 17.

It said the ruling came after a careful study and consideration of the tight pre-election timelines in relation to the October polls.

At the same time, the Comelec said the number of seats for district representatives allocated for other provinces in the Bangsamoro Region...