3 governors back move to postpone BARMM polls to 2026

Three governors on Wednesday joined the call to postpone the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In a joint statement Basilan Governor Jim Hataman Salliman, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, and Tawi-Tawai Governor Yshmael Sali said the postponement of the BARMM elections will provide “necessary time” to address the distribution of parliamentary seats.

Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, seven of the 80 parliament seats were allocated to Sulu.

However, as the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in September, it also declared that Sulu is no longer part of the region.

Earlier this month, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero filed a bill seeking to postpone the first regular BARMM elections.

This came after the Bangsamoro Government asked the Supreme Court to re-include the province of Sulu in the Bangsamoro Region.

“Resetting the elections allows time to reconfigure electoral districts, ensuring that all remaining areas have adequate representation,” the governors said.

“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,” they added.

With issues with Sulu and the parliamentary seats, the governors raised concern over the insufficient time to prepare for the 2025 BARMM elections.

“The current timeline does not provide sufficient time for these preparations. potentially undermining the credibility of the elections. Postponing the elections to 2026 allows ample time for a comprehensive and inclusive electoral process,” they said.

The governors also said BARMM needs time to adjust with the creation of the Province of Kutawato.

“The creation of the Province of Kutawato from the Special Geographic Area necessitates adjustments to the electoral process and representation. Resetting the elections provides the necessary time to address these issues effectively,” the local executives said.

“Rushing these processes within the current timeframe risks further disenfranchisement and undermines the integrity of the elections,” they added.

Two members of the Bangsamoro Parliament earlier expressed support for the proposed BARMM election postponement to allow more time to reallocate Sulu’s seats.

However, the Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) said there are still six months to address the relocation of seats in the parliament before the BARMM polls.

The CSAT said Sulu’s pending case with the Supreme Court should not hinder the BARMM elections.

It added that the election would strengthen the “democratic foundation” of the region’s governance.

Escudero had said opinions on the proposed deferral of the BARMM elections will heard and considered.

“Those who are in favor and those who oppose it will all be heard and their positions and opinions considered. And in the end, it will be put to a vote. That is what a democracy is all about.” said Escudero. — BAP, GMA Integrated News