Bill postponing BARMM polls gets final House nod

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill that aims to postpone the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until 2026 to give the government ample time to sort issues surrounding the voting in the region.

With a vote of 198-4 and no abstentions, the Lower House passed House Bill 11144, or the bill that aims to postpone the elections, after BARMM stakeholders raised their concerns about the possible unequal representation in the Bangsamoro region if the voting pushes through in 2025. 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the bill's author, also said that it is necessary to postpone the elections as issues such as the exclusion of Sulu under BARMM and to help the region adjust with the allocation of seats in the BARMM parliament. 

“This postponement is not a delay in progress but rather a necessary step to ensure that the foundations we are building for BARMM are solid and capable of supporting a sustainable autonomous government,” Romualdez said in a statement.

Stakeholders of the BARMM region, including politicians and local groups, have all been waiting for progress on the legislative side for the postponement of the elections, noting the need for the deferment of the elections until 2026.

The Senate, on the other hand, also has a similar bill filed by Senate President Chiz Escudero that is yet to be processed and deliberated upon.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) also said that they are ready to stop their preparations for the BARMM elections once the law postponing the voting is enacted.

"In case it becomes a law, the Comelec stands ready to stop our preparations. If it is not passed into law, we will just be continuing with our preparations. Whatever will be the decision, as the law's implementor, we will just be waiting for it," Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said.

President Fernando “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. initially hinted at the possibility of suspending the elections in the region next year due to ongoing legal issues, including the exclusion of the province of Sulu under BARMM.

The president has also assigned Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo as Malacanang's person in charge of ensuring that the national government is properly coordinated with the BARMM for the purpose of ensuring a peaceful, honest, and orderly election.

Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulraof Macacua, and Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali all issued statements in support of the postponement of elections in November.

"This purposeful resetting is intended to ensure that the electoral process is conducted with integrity and safeguards the fundamental right of suffrage by creating the conditions indispensable for its meaningful exercise," the four governors said in a joint statement. 

Some 10 Basilan mayors, including Roderick Furigay of Lamitan City, Nasser Abubakar of Lantawan, Moner Manisan of Tabuan Lasa, Jomar Maturan of Ungkaya Pukan, Jaydeefar Lajid of Albarka, Alih Sali of Akbar, Arsina Kahing-Nanoh of Muhtamad, Jul-Adnan Hataman of Sumisip, Arcam Istarul of Tipo-Tipo, and Talib Pawaki of Hj. Muhammad Ajul has also shown support for the postponement of the said election.

"Holding these elections separately from the 2025 local and senatorial elections provides an opportunity to consolidate the stability achieved through the BARMM peace process," the mayors said.

Government officials, including Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., have also been expressing support for the postponement of BARMM elections.

"The election reset will allow us to give considerable focus to these socioeconomic programs rather than a divided concentration on the election that may compromise our ongoing efforts," Galvez said.