November 11, Northern Kabuntalan, Philippines — The United Bangsamoro Development Council (UBDC), led by Northern Kabuntalan Mayor Datu Umbra Dilangalen, publicly announced its support for the proposed postponement of the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections, initially scheduled for 2025, to May 2026. The council, consisting of nine mayors from municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte, convened with the media on Monday to share their position and the reasoning behind their advocacy for the delay.
The UBDC, representing the municipalities of Northern Kabuntalan, Mother Kabuntalan, Parang, Barira, Matanog, Sultan Mastura, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, and North Upi, collectively signed a manifesto and position paper expressing their stance. This documentation supports deferring the BARMM elections due to ongoing transitional needs within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and recent shifts within the region’s political landscape, such as the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM jurisdiction.
The council highlighted several pressing reasons for their support, chief among them being the necessity for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to complete key transitional tasks. Leaders expressed that an extension would allow the BTA sufficient time to address essential governance and developmental priorities for the BARMM region.
Additionally, should the election be postponed and an extension granted, the council emphasized that they would prefer the BARMM government to remain under the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), advocating for a continued MILF-led administration during the transition period.
The mayors’ manifesto and position paper will be submitted to the Senate and Congress, formally communicating their stance to the national government. This move signifies a consolidated effort by Maguindanao del Norte officials to advocate for policies that they believe will strengthen the BARMM’s governance foundation and further the goals of regional autonomy and development.
