House OKs bill postponing BARMM polls to Sept. 2026 on final reading

The House of Representatives has approved the bill postponing the first-ever elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to the second Monday of September this year. 

Lawmakers voted 247-0-2 during Tuesday’s plenary session to approve House Bill 8220 on third and final reading.

The measure provided for the postponement of the inaugural BARMM elections to September 14, 2026. Succeeding elections shall be held every second Monday of September every three years after.

“This will address the constitutional and statutory gap created by the previously enacted redistricting law that was rendered invalid by the Supreme Court (SC), as well as ensures continuity in the use of the automated election system, clarify voter eligibility, and sets assumption of office of elected officials,” the committee report on the measure read.

The bill was referring to the temporary restraining order that the SC issued on the implementation of the law that reallocated Sulu’s 32 parliamentary seats to other BARMM provinces. 

The redistricting law was enacted after the High Court ruled in 2024 that Sulu is not a part of the BARMM. 

The BARMM is currently governed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). The BTA will continue to do so until their successors are elected and qualified in an automated election in September this year as provided under the approved bill.

The BTA members’ tenure, however, can be cut short if they are elected to a different office, or by other causes. — JMA, GMA Integrated News