The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 11144 or An Act Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao on its third and final reading on Tuesday, December 17.
The House Bill amended the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), moving the first regular election of the Bangsamoro government from May 12, 2025, to May 11, 2026, with 198 votes in favor and four against.
It was submitted by the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, aiming to provide the BARMM with additional time to resolve emerging legal issues and to promote broader participation from political parties. One of the issues is the conflict between the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to exclude the province of Sulu from BARMM.
Additionally, the bill’s passing would also allow for the region to have a more enhanced understanding of the new electoral process.
Through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) can promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections, and administer laws and policies that align with the Organic Law and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
Upon the Act’s effectivity, the present constituted Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) term in the region shall be deemed expired. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shall also appoint the 80 new interim members of the BTA, and serve until their successors have been elected and qualified.
It will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
The bill was submitted by the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms last November, and signed by its Committee Chairman, Maximo Dalog Jr.
It was introduced by Representatives Martin Romualdez, Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Manuel Jose Dalipe, Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Yedda Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Zia Alonto Adiong, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Bai Dimple Mastura, and Munir Arbison Jr.
“If the regional polls are postponed, it would be the second deferment since May 2022, when the first regular elections in the autonomous region were originally scheduled to be held,” the Office of the Speaker said in a press release.
