New law moves Bangsamoro polls to October - Comelec chief

Metro Manila, Philippines - The first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been moved from May 12 to Oct. 13 under a law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed the development to NewsWatch Plus.

The copy of Republic Act 12123 has yet to be published in the Official Gazette as of Friday evening.

“The next election shall be held and synchronized with the 2028 national elections and every three years thereafter,” read the provision that passed in the Senate’s version of the bill. 

It also said that the term of office of officials first elected under the new law “shall commence at noon of the 30th day of October next following their election.”

Marcos certified the measure as urgent on Jan. 28.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia was the first to announce the passage of the law on Friday afternoon.

“I was informed by Malacanang earlier that the president already signed the bill… Ang ibig sabihin po niyan, may isa na namang eleksyon na separate independent ang pagho-hold ng Comelec,” he said.

[Translation: That only means there’s another election that the Comelec will separately hold.]

Garcia said there will be three elections this year: the national local elections in May, Bangsamoro polls, and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the law’s passage was a “decisive action” from the president, giving Comelec and BARMM institutions the time to ensure that “the electoral process is safe, transparent, and reflective of the people’s will.”

Lanao del Sur is among the five provinces of the BARMM.

“A crucial component of this law is the President’s power to appoint members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which is now even more significant following the Supreme Court’s ruling that severed the province of Sulu from the BARMM,” Adiong said. “This ruling has created a vacancy in the BTA that must be addressed to maintain inclusivity and balanced representation within the interim government.”

“With this new law in place, the President’s authority to appoint ensures that governance in BARMM remains responsive and reflective of the Bangsamoro people’s aspirations,” he added.