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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Postponement of BARMM elections still touch and go, Zubiri says

Postponement of BARMM elections still touch and go, Zubiri says

Published Jun 17, 2021 12:47 pm

Government leaders, including President Duterte, still have not agreed on whether or not to push through with the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang)

This was disclosed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday, June 17, following a meeting between President Duterte, senators, and officials of the BARMM on Wednesday night, June 16, on the bill postponing the first parliamentary elections in the region to 2025.

"President Duterte stood largely neutral on the issue and just pointing out the pros and cons of each side," Zubiri narrated in a message to reporters.

Zubiri said that during their meeting Malacañang, Duterte heard the positions of those who support and oppose the deferment.

BARMM officials supposedly told the President that they have not been able to "govern and take off" due to the late appointment of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA), as well as COVID-19 outbreak.

On the other hand, Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, who led the opposition, insisted on the peoples' right to suffrage, "which was acknowledged as well by the President", Zubiri said.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate local government committee and sponsor of the bill, meanwhile, raised that holding an election "may be difficult" due to the absence of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code that would define the positions and new districts in the parliamentary set up provided for by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

"It is the BTA who should pass this Electoral Code," Zubiri, who authored and sponsored the BOL in Senate, said.

"The absence of that Election code would mean the Comelec would have no positions to elect for the region as the positions created by the ARMM have been abolished upon the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law," he further explained.

"Unfortunately there still was no consensus at the end of the meeting," Zubiri said.

Duterte ordered the BARMM leaders to resolve the issues among themselves before returning to Malacañang for another meeting on June 24, he said.

"Hopefully a consensus can be reached by then," Zubiri appealed.

Related Tags

BARMM Bangsamoro Bangsamoro Organic Law 2022 polls migz zubiri bangsamoro polls
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