Interim Bangsamoro execs, govs yet to agree on fate of Eleksyon 2022 in BARMM -Zubiri

The interim officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the governors of provinces in the region have yet to reach a consensus on the fate of the first regional elections scheduled in 2022.

This was disclosed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri the day after the BARMM officials headed by interim Chief Minister Al-hajj Murad Ebrahim, elected governors of provinces in the BARMM region, and Congress leaders met President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang to discuss the proposals to postpone the 2022 BARMM polls.

“Unfortunately, there still was no consensus at the end of the meeting and the President directed them all to meet as a Council of Leaders meeting and resolve the issue amongst themselves before having them come back to Malacañang for the final meeting with him on the 24th. That's how we ended our meeting last night. Hopefully a consensus can be reached by then,” Zubiri said in a text message to reporters.

He said Duterte stood “largely neutral” on the postponement of the 2022 BARMM polls, weighing its pros and cons.

The lawmaker said the BARMM officials explained that they have not been able to govern and take off due to the late appointment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Their view of postponement were supported by the local governments of Lanao Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi,” the senator said.

However, Zubiri said Governor Sakur Tan of Sulu as well as the City of Cotabato have opposed the postponement of the polls, asserting the people's right to suffrage in BARMM which was also acknowledged by Duterte.

Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Senate local government committee and sponsor of the bill seeking the postponement of 2022 BARMM polls, pointed out in the same meeting that the BTA has yet to craft the Bangsamoro Electoral Code which defines the positions and new districts in the parliamentary system provided under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“It is the BTA who should pass this Electoral Code. So, according to Sen. Tolentino, that would take time to pass and 100 days till the filing of candidacies on October would be too short a time to do so, hence the extension of the existing set up,” Zubiri said.

“The absence of that Election code would mean the [Commission on Elections] would have no positions to elect for the region as the positions created by the ARMM have been abolished upon the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” he said.

The Senate is currently debating on the bill seeking to push back the first regular elections in the BARMM from 2022 to 2025.

In sponsoring Senate Bill 2214, Tolentino cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a major challenge in accomplishing the priority programs and projects of the BTA.

The BTA is supposed to oversee the BARMM until the May 2022 regional polls, which would be held simultaneous with the 2022 national and local elections.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has previously expressed support to the extension of the transition period of the BARMM.

Meanwhile, Malacañang earlier said it leaves the decision on the BTA extension to Congress. 

While the fate of the BARMM polls is still uncertain, the Comelec said it is still pushing through with the preparations for the 2022 BARMM polls. -MDM, GMA News