COTABATO CITY — Cracks within the power bloc of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) surfaced after an unprecedented setback during the opening of its Fourth Regular Session on July 21, as a controversial motion regarding the redistricting bills unexpectedly turned the tide against the MILF-aligned majority.
In a rare defeat for the once-dominant MILF bloc, the BTA Parliament voted to refer back to committee the long-awaited Parliament Bill Nos. 351 and 347, instead of proceeding to plenary deliberation. The bills seek to reorganize parliamentary districts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of its first regular parliamentary elections in October 2025.
The committee report was approved as early as July 11 following extensive public consultations across the region, spearheaded by the Committee on Local Government (CLG) under MP Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo and the Committee on Amendments, Revision and Codification of Laws (CARCL) chaired by MP Sittie Fahadanie Uy-Oyod. Surprisingly, the same committee chairs joined the majority vote to send the report back to their respective committees, igniting confusion and frustration among their colleagues.
The motion to refer the bill back was initiated by MP Zulfikar-Ali Bayam, himself a CLG member, who cited the need for further study. Deputy Speaker Lanang Ali firmly opposed the move, warning it would only delay the process. The tension escalated when MP Bayam moved to strike out Ali’s remarks from the official record, claiming misinterpretation.
In the final vote, only 23 MILF-aligned MPs voted to proceed with deliberations, while the majority—including members of the GPH bloc, some MNLF-aligned MPs, and what some referred to as “fake MILF” members—voted in favor of referral back. The result is widely seen as a symbolic blow to MILF’s historical control over BTA proceedings and an indication of shifting political dynamics within the parliament.
Under the committee-approved version of PB No. 351, the proposed 32 parliamentary districts are to be distributed as follows:
- Lanao del Sur: 9 districts
- Maguindanao del Norte: 5
- Maguindanao del Sur: 5
- Basilan: 4
- Tawi-Tawi: 4
- Cotabato City: 3
- Special Geographic Area (SGA): 2
Although the total number of districts remains the same as the original proposal, minor adjustments were made to the grouping of municipalities, especially in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Cotabato City.
Youth and Local Stakeholders Push Back
The redistricting bills have not only sparked discord within the parliament but have also ignited opposition on the ground.
Youth groups from both mainland BARMM and the Sulu archipelago staged a peace rally to voice their opposition to PB Nos. 347 and 351. Led by youth leader Datu Yasir Bansawan, protesters criticized the proposed reapportionment of seven unfilled parliamentary seats previously allocated to Sulu province under PB No. 347.
Bansawan appealed emotionally to the BTA and Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, expressing fears that Sulu residents would be left behind in the gains of the Bangsamoro if the bills proceed unamended. “It is the right of the youth to speak out,” Bansawan emphasized, calling for efforts to reintegrate Sulu more meaningfully into BARMM.
Simultaneously, residents from Kapai, Lanao del Sur gathered at the entrance of the Bangsamoro Parliament to air their own objections to the redistricting bills. Images and reports of the protest were shared by Deputy Speaker Atty. Omar Yasser Sema on social media, reflecting the growing grassroots unrest.
What’s at Stake
The redistricting issue strikes at the heart of Bangsamoro’s future political structure. These bills are seen as critical to ensuring fair representation in the first-ever parliamentary elections, which will mark the end of the transition period and the beginning of regular governance in BARMM.
The unexpected referral back to committee and visible political realignment have raised questions about transparency, unity, and leadership within the BTA. Observers warn that further delay could compromise the preparation and legitimacy of the 2025 elections.
As the clock ticks toward October 2025, the fate of the redistricting bills—and the broader shape of political power in the Bangsamoro region—remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the once-solid bloc of the MILF is now facing internal fractures that could reshape the future of autonomous governance in Muslim Mindanao.