DAVAO CITY – Two policy advocacy groups see no valid reasons for the deferment of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 2025 to May 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nov. 13, the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and the Climate and Conflict Action (CCAA) said that there is no legitimate or valid reason behind the proposal to postpone the elections.
The deferment was sought to address so-called representation issues surrounding the Supreme Court’s decision to recognize Sulu’s desire for exclusion from the BARMM.
The groups issued the statement following the calls of mayors in Maguindanao del Norte to defer the elections as they suggested to first sort out unresolved issues within the region.
“Postponing the regional elections for one year is unconstitutional as it will not be synchronized with the national and local elections mandated by the Constitution. As well, the constitutionally mandated three-year term of office of members of the Parliament is consequently violated when the regional elections are held apart from the national and local elections,” said the groups who are also involved in policy advocacy works in the region.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero have filed bills that seek to reset the regular elections in the region.
The proposed measures were filed after the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu is no longer a part of the region.
The CCAA and IAG added that the so-called “legal imperative” to reallocate seats as an offshoot of the Sulu decision to complete the 80 seats to be elected in accordance with the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is not an imperative at all.
They clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision to exclude Sulu from the region is not yet final amid the pending motions for reconsideration.
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), they added, is not in a position to pass any legislation to address legal issues around the Sulu ruling. “Postponing the elections based on false assumptions does not justify suppressing the right of suffrage of BARMM’s 2.3 million voters.”
The CCAA and IAG also acknowledged the decision of the people of Sulu not to ratify the BOL, saying that it is a victory for its people who wanted separation from the BARMM from the outset.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan challenged the constitutionality of the BOL before the Supreme Court in 2018. Tan expressed interest in leading the Bangsamoro parliament when he forged an alliance with prominent political parties in the region and poised to challenge the ruling Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).
Meanwhile, the CCAA and IAG said that relentless violence is the most important and central issue facing local communities today.
“An astonishing rise in death and displacement has been recorded in Maguindanao and its adjacent mainland provinces. This is the heartland of the MILF-led regional authority, and the MILF are the perpetrators themselves,” they said, referring to the Oct. 30 clashes between two MILF base commands that left 19 people dead in Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The number of fatalities was said to be the biggest in a single incident since the BARMM was established in 2019.
Infighting between MILF members in different parts of Maguindanao provinces have displaced thousands of civilians.
“Granting an extension detached from this reality incentivizes violent aggression and leaves a bad taste in the mouth – people will view this as another attempt to subvert the will of its citizens and a fearful response to an armed group that remains armed and mobilized for combat when needed. “
They urged the House of Representatives and the Senate not to rush the passage of the bill postponing the elections.
“Already, the MILF as well as local officials and CSOs have expressed opposition to the measure. Forcing its passage will have grave implications to the peace process and security of the region.”
The MILF Central Committee has passed a resolution pushing for the conduct of the elections.