Bicam sets final date of BARMM polls to Oct. 13, 2025

The bicameral conference committee on Tuesday finalized the bill postponing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's first ever elections, moving the date of polls from May 12 to October 13, 2025.

This was disclosed by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Senator JV Ejercito in an ambush interview after the bicameral conference.

"Ang in-adopt five months [postponement]. October 13 ang halalan. Pumayag ang Kamara. May mga pagbabago ring pinanukala ang Kamara na inadopt din ng Senado," Escudero told reporters.

(We adopted the proposal to postpone the polls for five months. The elections will be on October 13. The House contingent agreed. The Senate contingent also adopted proposals from the House.)

During the bicameral meeting, Escudero said the Senate adopted the provisions in the House version that clarified that the polls will be automated and that the BARMM government is allowed to spend for Sulu despite the latter's exclusion from the region.

There is no provision on supplemental budget under the bill postponing BARMM polls, Escudero said, noting that the final version of the measure allows the Commission on Elections to use its savings and any appropriations given to them by the Department of Budget and Management for the conduct of the elections.

Should the bill be enacted into law, Escudero said it will be effective upon publication in the Official Gazette, unlike the other laws that will only be effective 15 days upon the completion of the publication in newspapers of general circulation.

Meanwhile, Ejercito said the bicam agreed to the provision that the current members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will remain in their positions pending the election of their successors.

Escudero and Ejercito said the bicameral conference committee report is expected to be ratified during the session later today.

The Senate chief explained that the five-month postponement is an assurance that the BARMM polls will no longer be deferred anew.

"Masyado nang matagal (ang one year) at actually ang totoong rason ko personally, hindi ko alam 'yung rason ng iba, pag one year e di may sapat na panahon na naman ang Kongreso para i-reset uli 'yan. Mas maikli mas maganda para sa akin para wala nang panahon na i-reset pang muli. Dapat matuloy na ang halalan sa BARMM," he said.

(The one year postponement would be too long and actually my personal reason is, I don't know the others, Congress would have enough time to reset it again. The shorter the period, the better because there would be no time to reset it. The BARMM polls should proceed after this.)

The one year postponement was in the House bill that was approved on third and final reading.

Further, Escudero cited security reasons in the need to postpone the BARMM polls.

"Ang pangunahing rason kung bakit ni-reset ito ay security reasons. Manipis ang reallocation o allocation ng ating security forces dahil kasabay ng halalan, 'Yung sapat na panahon na hiningi ng security at election officials natin para ma-reposition 'yung (kanilang mga tao) para matiyak na 'yung kauna-unahang halalan sa BARMM ay tunay na magiging malinis, kapani-paniwala, at mapayapa," he said.

(The real reason for the reset of the poll is security. The deployment of security forces is thin because of the nationwide elections. The security and election officials need enough time to reposition their personnel to ensure that the first polls in the BARMM would be clean, credible, and peaceful.)

On Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri's proposal to conduct another plebiscite in Sulu to redetermine their position on their inclusion in BARMM, Escudero expressed doubt that it will be passed in time before the end of the 19th Congress.

"Kailan pa mapapasa 'yun? Ang nakalagay dito ay mag-iisyu ng rules and regulations ang Comelec kung saka-sakaling ire-reallocate ng BTA kasi siya ang may kapangyarihan mag-reallocate nung pitong seats na naka-allocate sa Sulu," he said.

"Puwedeng buksan muli ang filing ng certificate of candidacy para makapag-file 'yung mga kandidato sa pitong seats na bubuksan kung saka-sakali ng BTA," he added.

Escudero noted that the Supreme Court has already asked Sulu several times if they wanted to be part of BARMM.

But for House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, the first-ever BARMM polls synchronized with the May 2025 midterm polls should push through because the voice of Bangsamoro should be heard after being under a Transition Authority for so long.

“If we really want peace, let the Bangsamoro people freely choose their own leaders through the elections in May 2025. Hindi tayo sang-ayon sa pagpapaliban ng eleksyon dahil ito ay isang mahalagang proseso sa ating demokrasya,” Hataman, who is part of the bicam panel but did not sign the report, said.

(We are against postponing the BARMM polls because this is an important part of our democracy.)

“Dapat nang ipagkaloob sa mga mamamayan ng BARMM ang kanilang karapatang bumoto at pumili ng kanilang mga magiging pinuno. Sapat na ang mahigit anim na taon ng transition. Ang eleksyon ay isang paraan upang magkaroon ng pananagutan sa mamamayan ang kung sino man ang mamamahala sa BARMM. Hindi natin pwedeng gawing normal ang patuloy na pagpapaliban ng halalan,” he added.

(We should not deny the Bangsamoro people their right to vote and choose their leaders. Six years under a transition period is enough, and the conduct of the elections is one way of ensuring that public officials are accountable to the people. We can't let poll postponement be the norm.)

Apart from opposing the election postponement, Hataman also rejected a significant result of resetting the elections that effectively shortens the term of office of those who will be elected in October 2025 and contradicts the constitutional mandate on the tenure of local officials.

“Ang mandato ng ating Saligang Batas ay malinaw: tatlong taon ang termino ng mga halal na opisyal sa lokal na pamahalaan. Pero sa panukalang ito, hindi nila matatapos ang kanilang full term,” Hataman said.

(The mandate of the Constitution is clear: three-year term for local officials. But under the postponement of BARMM polls, the would-be elected BARMM officials won't be able to serve full term.)

“Hindi natin maaaring baliwalain ang itinakda ng Saligang Batas. Kung may eleksyon, dapat may malinaw na mandato. Dapat may sapat na panahon ang mga halal na opisyal upang maipatupad ang kanilang mga programa,” he added.

(We cannot disregard the Constitution. If there is an election, there should be a clear mandate, and the elected officials should have enough time to implement their programs.)

Further, Hataman said that postponing the elections further weakens democratic institutions in BARMM.

“Ang demokrasya ay nakasalalay sa regular at malaya na halalan. Ang patuloy na pag-antala sa eleksyon ay isang maling precedent at maaaring magdulot ng kawalan ng tiwala sa ating electoral system,” Hataman said.

(Democracy depends on regular and free elections. Postponement sets a bad precedent and cultivates distrust in the system.)

“Malinaw ang nakasaad sa batas na dapat may eleksyon na sa 2025. Hindi natin dapat ipagpaliban muli ang pagkakataon ng ating mga kababayan na pumili ng kanilang magiging kinatawan sa gobyerno,” he added.

(The law is clear that the elections should be held in 2025. We cannot postpone against the opportunity of the people to choose their representative in the government.) —with a report from Llanesca Panti/AOL, GMA Integrated News

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