The Philippine House of Representatives has passed a bill that delays the inaugural parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 2025 to May 2026. The decision, made with a vote of 198-4 and no abstentions, was encapsulated in House Bill 11144. The bill’s chief advocate, Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, highlighted several reasons for the delay, including the exclusion of Sulu from BARMM, ongoing legal challenges to the Bangsamoro electoral code of 2023, and a request from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for more time to prepare for the elections.
Adiong emphasized that the Comelec needed additional time due to the unique and complex nature of the Bangsamoro electoral system. The bill also aims to resolve emerging legal issues, enhance political participation, and improve understanding of the electoral process among stakeholders. Additionally, the legislation would end the term of the current Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) upon its enactment, with the President authorized to appoint 80 interim members to the BTA until the elected officials take office in 2026.
During debates, Adiong noted that conducting the elections manually would cost PHP852 million, while an automated system would require PHP1.771 billion. Speaker Martin Romualdez, another author of the bill, stated that the postponement aligns with a formal request from the BTA, which seeks more time to complete essential tasks for establishing a fully functioning, democratically elected BARMM government. These tasks include enacting crucial laws, building institutions, and developing systems to support BARMM’s transition to self-governance.
Romualdez described the delay as a necessary step to ensure a solid foundation for a sustainable autonomous government in BARMM. The BTA had previously passed Resolution 641 in October, requesting an extension of its mandate until 2028 to address governance, electoral, and administrative issues. Romualdez emphasized that the legislation respects the unique context of the Bangsamoro while maintaining high governance standards within the Philippines.
Concerns were raised that holding elections in 2025 without addressing these issues could lead to governance gaps and destabilize the region’s nascent autonomous government. The delay is also influenced by a recent Supreme Court ruling that declared Sulu’s inclusion in BARMM unconstitutional, complicating the allocation of parliamentary seats.
Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman, who voted against the postponement, stressed the importance of broader public consultation and warned of the implications of desynchronizing BARMM elections from national polls. He argued that such a move could revert the region to a feudal system where Manila could dictate electoral outcomes in Bangsamoro.