Manila, Sept. 14 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the voting period by two hours in the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the municipality of Al-Barka in Basilan due to the incident involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other partisan groups.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body en banc approved the extension of voting in the town up to 9 p.m. from the original 7 p.m. deadline.

"The reason for this is that tensions arose involving certain groups of MILF fighters and commanders, as well as other partisan groups; consequently, our teachers were unable to immediately enter the area and secure the necessary materials, part...