House bill seeking to reset BARMM polls to May 2026 filed | ABS-CBN
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House bill seeking to reset BARMM polls to May 2026 filed
House bill seeking to reset BARMM polls to May 2026 filed
A view from the top of Bacolod Grande Grand Mosque on Friday, July 28, 2017. Froilan Gallardo, ABS-CBN News/File
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MANILA -- A measure seeking to defer for one year the first general elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been filed at the House of Representatives.
MANILA -- A measure seeking to defer for one year the first general elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez and nine other congressmen authored House Bill 11034, which proposes to reset the May 12, 2025 elections to May 11, 2026.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez and nine other congressmen authored House Bill 11034, which proposes to reset the May 12, 2025 elections to May 11, 2026.
“In view of recent political and legal developments, this bill seeks additional time to allow the resolution of various emerging legal issues, promoting broader participation from political parties and enhancing the electorate’s understanding of new electoral processes,” the authors said in the bill’s explanatory note.
“In view of recent political and legal developments, this bill seeks additional time to allow the resolution of various emerging legal issues, promoting broader participation from political parties and enhancing the electorate’s understanding of new electoral processes,” the authors said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Last September, a Supreme Court decision excluded the province of Sulu from the BARMM, which has implications to the composition of the BARMM parliament and the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Last September, a Supreme Court decision excluded the province of Sulu from the BARMM, which has implications to the composition of the BARMM parliament and the upcoming parliamentary polls.
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“Ang preparation ng COMELEC is kasali ang Sulu. So ngayon na hindi kasama ang Sulu, paano mo i-redistribute ‘yung seven seats sa parliament? That's why kailangan i-reset ‘yung election in 2026.. Before we can even hold the election we have to make sure the 7 seats are allotted proportionally to those that remain to be part of the BARMM,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Adiong explained in a press conference on Wednesday.
“Ang preparation ng COMELEC is kasali ang Sulu. So ngayon na hindi kasama ang Sulu, paano mo i-redistribute ‘yung seven seats sa parliament? That's why kailangan i-reset ‘yung election in 2026.. Before we can even hold the election we have to make sure the 7 seats are allotted proportionally to those that remain to be part of the BARMM,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Adiong explained in a press conference on Wednesday.
“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 added.
“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 added.
Under the bill, once it is enacted, the President shall appoint the 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, who shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The term of office of the present BTA members shall be deemed expired.
Under the bill, once it is enacted, the President shall appoint the 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, who shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The term of office of the present BTA members shall be deemed expired.
At the upper chamber of Congress, Senate President Francis Escudero filed a counterpart bill, to allow the region to reconfigure its jurisdictions and reallocate the seats of its 80-member parliament following the High Court's ruling cutting off Sulu from the BARMM.
At the upper chamber of Congress, Senate President Francis Escudero filed a counterpart bill, to allow the region to reconfigure its jurisdictions and reallocate the seats of its 80-member parliament following the High Court's ruling cutting off Sulu from the BARMM.
But Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman expressed opposition to such measures.
But Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman expressed opposition to such measures.
“Anumang panukala na nagsusulong ng pagpapaliban sa 2025 BARMM elections ay aking tinututulan dahil dapat maging tapat tayo sa pagtataguyod at pagtatanggol sa sagradong karapatan ng mga mamamayan na bumoto at magluklok ng mga lider na gagabay sa kanila sa mga susunod na taon,” he said.
“Anumang panukala na nagsusulong ng pagpapaliban sa 2025 BARMM elections ay aking tinututulan dahil dapat maging tapat tayo sa pagtataguyod at pagtatanggol sa sagradong karapatan ng mga mamamayan na bumoto at magluklok ng mga lider na gagabay sa kanila sa mga susunod na taon,” he said.
“It is my position that before we even entertain proposals to postpone the regional elections, extensive public consultations in BARMM should be undertaken to safeguard the right to suffrage of its citizens. Kailangan ba ito? Makatarungan ba ito? Ito ba ay mas mainam para sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan sa Bangsamoro? Ano ang implikasyon nito sa demokrasya natin?” Hataman added.
“It is my position that before we even entertain proposals to postpone the regional elections, extensive public consultations in BARMM should be undertaken to safeguard the right to suffrage of its citizens. Kailangan ba ito? Makatarungan ba ito? Ito ba ay mas mainam para sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan sa Bangsamoro? Ano ang implikasyon nito sa demokrasya natin?” Hataman added.
House Bill 11034 was referred on Tuesday to the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms for deliberations.
House Bill 11034 was referred on Tuesday to the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms for deliberations.
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