COTABATO CITY 鈥� Opposition to a possible 鈥渘o election鈥� (鈥淣o-el鈥�) scenario owing to the proposed resetting of the parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has snowballed, even as the move has also gained ground in Congress.
On Friday, a coalition of 35 civil society organizations in Mindanao added their voice to mounting calls to drop proposals now pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives to postpone the regional elections to 2026, instead of holding it next year alongside the national and local elections.
The Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) urged Congress to reject the measures and instead allow the electorate to exercise their right to finally choose their leaders.
鈥淭he Bangsamoro people deserve the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote and select their parliamentary representatives, a core principle of democracy,鈥� CSAT said in a statement on Friday.
The group also noted the readiness of the regional political parties for the upcoming political exercise, and the filing of candidacies for district representatives by different aspirants.
The CSAT pointed out that President Marcos repeatedly assured, especially during his State of the Nation Address last July, that the first regional elections in the BARMM will happen in May 2025 鈥渁s this symbolizes a milestone in the peace process.鈥�
鈥楪enuine accountability鈥�
The conduct of democratic elections in the BARMM reinforces the peace gains achieved through years of negotiations and peacebuilding efforts, it said, adding that a smooth and credible election process will reflect the region鈥檚 political maturity and commitment to a peaceful transition of power, which are essential for long-term stability.
CSAT also noted that the regional election will make its leaders accountable to their constituencies rather than to any appointing authority, hence strengthening the democratic foundation of governance in the BARMM.
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The current 80 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the interim regional government, were appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, and another set by President Marcos in 2022.
The CSAT asserted that the Supreme Court decision removing Sulu province from the BARMM鈥檚 jurisdiction should not obstruct the democratic process in the region or disenfranchise its voters.
鈥淲e collectively call on Congress to uphold the first parliamentary election in the BARMM on May 12, 2025. This landmark event will signify the transition from a transitional regional government, enabling the Bangsamoro people to demand genuine accountability and transparency from their leaders,鈥� the group said.
Parliament鈥檚 mandate
Maranao activist Abul Khayr Alibasa said that the implication of the high court ruling was the need to reapportion the seven parliamentary district seats of Suu to complete the 80 seats of the regional legislature in 2025.
鈥淭he postponement of the election by reason of Sulu鈥檚 exclusion from the BARMM per the Supreme Court ruling is not justified. In fact, only the BTA can redistrict the BARMM, or allocate parliamentary district seats, hence, it is within its jurisdiction to deal with the ruling, and not Congress,鈥� Alibasa explained.
鈥淚 hope Senate President [Francis] Escudero and other national legislators supporting the election postponement will realize that Congress has nothing to do with redistricting the BARMM,鈥� he added.
Nassef Manabilang Adiong, BTA Director for Policy Research and Legal Services, said the regional election in 2025 would give the regional policymakers and leaders a real mandate in serving the Bangsamoro people.