The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) hailed on Saturday, Feb. 22, the enactment of Republic Act No. 12123 by President Marcos Jr. which resets the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 12 to Oct. 13.
The law, signed by Marocs on Feb. 19, also states that the future elections in BARMM will be synchronized with national elections and will take place every three years thereafter, scheduling the next polls to 2028.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the reset of the parliamentary polls was a testament to the administration’s “unwavering determination” to fulfill the commitments made by the national government under all signed peace agreements, and bring sustainable development and long-lasting peace to the Bangsamoro people.
“The resetting of the first parliamentary BARMM elections will provide the BARMM government sufficient time to address pressing legal concerns brought about by the Supreme Court’s decision to exclude the province of Sulu from the BARMM,” Galvez said.
The peace adviser further noted that the Oct. 13 BARMM polls will now coincide with the culmination of the political track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), “enabling the Bangsamoro people to elect their leaders.”
Galvez also noted that under Section 3 of RA 12123, the current BARMM government shall continue to disburse Sulu’s share of the region’s “Block Grant” earmarked for 2025, which will enable the province to implement programs in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
It can be noted that the Supreme Court upheld the validity of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) but excluded Sulu from BARMM after the province rejected the law’s ratification during a plebiscite. Enacted in 2018, the BOL provided for the establishment of BARMM as a political entity and its corresponding basic governmental structure.
Galvez earlier assured the public that Sulu’s exclusion from BARMM would only have a “minimal” impact on the government’s peace efforts, dispelling rumors about brewing security concerns that it could cause political instability in the region, especially with the highly-anticipated parliamentary elections.
To ensure a “smooth” transition of Sulu’s exit from BARMM, the OPAPRU said that the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) has agreed to create a technical working group (TWG) that would ensure there are enough funds to provide socioeconomic programs and projects to the people of Sulu.