Cotabato City – As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its first-ever regional parliamentary elections next year, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has called for a postponement to allow for amendments to the law governing the region’s parliamentary districts.
BARMM Parliament member Michael Midtimbang, who represents Maguindanao del Sur, filed Resolutions 631 and 632 on September 20, following the recent Supreme Court ruling that excluded the province of Sulu from BARMM. Midtimbang is advocating for a delay in the 2025 elections to amend Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 58, the legislative measure that established the region’s parliamentary districts.
Midtimbang stressed that postponing the elections would give the regional government the necessary time to redistribute the seven parliamentary seats initially allocated to Sulu, ensuring that the remaining territories within BARMM receive fair and proportional representation in the parliament.
“Such amendments are crucial to ensure equitable representation and address the distinct needs of each district,” said Midtimbang. He emphasized that the region’s diverse cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic landscapes necessitate accurate districting to reflect the concerns of all communities under the Bangsamoro government.
The Bangsamoro parliament, under BAA No. 58, comprises 80 members, including 40 party-list representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives. However, with the exclusion of Sulu, the law requires revision to address the reallocation of seats across the remaining five provinces and cities within the BARMM territory.
Midtimbang’s second resolution also called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend the filing period for certificates of candidacy (COCs) to give candidates sufficient time to adapt to the possible changes in parliamentary districts. “Additional time for this process will allow more potential candidates to participate, representing the region’s diverse population,” Midtimbang said.
Comelec has already adjusted the filing period for COCs, originally set for October 1-8, to November 4-9, in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, Midtimbang insists that further extensions may be required to accommodate the anticipated amendments to BAA No. 58.
The scheduled 2025 regional elections are a pivotal moment for BARMM, marking the first time its citizens will vote directly for their parliament. The elections are seen as a crucial step toward strengthening self-governance and peace in the region, which was established following decades of conflict and a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The calls for postponement come at a time when the region is also preparing to hold elections under a new system of governance, shifting from an interim government led by the BTA to a democratically elected parliament. The potential postponement of the polls could add further complications to the delicate political transition.
Midtimbang’s proposals reflect broader concerns about the complexity of BARMM’s governance and electoral systems, especially in light of significant legal changes. With a highly diverse population spread across several provinces and numerous ethno-linguistic groups, equitable representation remains a fundamental issue in the region’s democratic process.
As BARMM’s first regional election looms, all eyes are on the parliament and Comelec as they navigate the complexities of transitioning the region toward self-determined governance, while ensuring that the process remains inclusive, fair, and representative of the Bangsamoro people’s aspirations for peace and development.
