Additional budget sought for deferred BARMM polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking additional funds for the holding of the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in March next year.

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN

Comelec Chairman George Garcia yesterday said the poll body has used up most of the P1.2 billion previously allotted for the BARMM election, which was recently postponed and moved from Oct. 13 to March.

He said P500 million “has been spent for the printing of official ballots that have gone to waste.”