Stakeholders in the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections were jolted with the provision of a None of the Above option if voters do not like the list of candidates during an emergency meeting called by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec chairman George Garcia said: ''Everyone was surprised by the problem we discussed. It was the first time they learned that none of the above had been included in the election code... it was only yesterday that they realized how serious the problem was."

"You can see the surprise on their faces about that issue. They didn't expect the implications," he added.

The Bangsamoro Electoral Code said there must be a "None of the Above" option in the official BPE Ballots aside from the candidates' names "as far as practicable".

The Bangsamoro Electoral Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) do not provide clear guidance on the potential implications of “None of the Above” garnering majority votes on Election Day.

In response to the issues raised by the Comelec, Garcia related that the Bangsamoro parliamentary said it will look at possible solutions, including the possibility of amending the law and removing the None of the Above option.

"The parliament said that they will do everything they can to provide a solution to the issue of none of the above before the end of September," said Garcia. DMS