Manila: The Senate on Thursday initiated urgent discussions on a measure aimed at rescheduling the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized that repeated delays have led to a cycle of disenfranchisement in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, Zubiri sponsored Senate Bill No. 1587, intending to make the upcoming postponement the last. He highlighted that the absence of elected leaders has weakened democratic participation in BARMM, more than seven years after the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was enacted. Zubiri pointed out that previous postponements were initially justified by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent legal and redistricting issues following Supreme Court rulings. However, he insisted that any further delays could undermine the democratic foundations set by the Bangsamoro peace framework.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, during the hearing, reflected on the seven-year wait of the Bangsamoro people to elect their leaders. He noted that the previous Congress had to make the tough decision to delay the elections to October 2025 due to a Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu from BARMM. Ejercito stressed that lasting peace must be rooted in the people's genuine exercise of suffrage, despite the legal uncertainties introduced by the nullification of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act by the high court.
Ejercito further emphasized that the right to vote is fundamental to any stable and legitimate government. He reaffirmed the Senate's commitment to measures that would foster genuine and lasting peace in Bangsamoro. He noted that the Bangsamoro Organic Law was a product of years of work and consultations across Mindanao. While the upcoming parliamentary elections under the BOL are historic, Ejercito underlined the necessity of reinforcing peace efforts with economic development, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities to tackle the root causes of conflict.
The Supreme Court's declaration last year deeming an earlier Bangsamoro redistricting law unconstitutional led Congress to postpone the October 2025 BARMM elections, allowing for the realignment of parliamentary districts. Despite the Bangsamoro Transition Authority enacting a new redistricting measure in January, Zubiri expressed concerns about the feasibility of the March 2026 elections due to practical constraints faced by the Commission on Elections.
The Senate subcommittee is currently evaluating whether the new law addresses the constitutional issues previously identified by the high court. They are working to determine the earliest feasible election date and how future BARMM elections should align with the national electoral calendar. Zubiri warned that prolonged political uncertainty could destabilize the region, referencing recent security incidents. He stressed the urgency of holding timely elections to prevent further escalation of violence, which he believes may be linked to the repeated election postponements.
