Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has asked the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament to hold a special session to pass a districting law in the remaining days of 2025.
In a letter, Macacua requested Parliament Speaker Mohammad Yacob’s approval for the holding of a special session on December 29, 2025.
The letter also stated that the session may be extended to December 30 and 31, if necessary.
The request aims to allow the Parliament to continue deliberations on the proposed measures to finalize a districting law that will guide the distribution of parliamentary districts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The districting law will serve as the legal basis for the first parliamentary elections scheduled for March 30, 2026.
Macacua sent the letter after the BTA Parliament adjourned its regular session on December 18 without passing the districting law, despite earlier pronouncements that it would be enacted before the end of the year in compliance with a directive from the Supreme Court (SC).
The legislative body adjourned for the holiday break and is expected to resume its regular session in January 2026.
It can be recalled that the polls set originally for October 13, 2025, was postponed due to the SC ruling declaring the districting laws, Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 58 and 77, unconstitutional.
BTA earlier expressed confidence that the first parliamentary elections will be “legally compliant” as public consultations on the region’s districting bills ended on December 12, 2025.
The BTA Bill No. 415, which seeks to establish 32-single-member parliamentary districts has been approved by the Committee on Rules and Local Government.
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. warned that failing to meet the prescribed timelines could undermine the region’s transition to a fully elected government.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has suspended the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) as the BTA Parliament has yet to pass the districting law, which is essential in determining the parliamentary districts where candidates may file their candidacies.
“But it’s really obvious na hindi pwedeng matuloy ang filing na yan kasi wala pa tayong districts. Saan magpa-file ang ating possible na kandidato?” COMELEC-BARMM Regional Election Officer, Atty. Ray Sumalipao, said.
COMELEC-BARMM said the lack of a districting law remains unresolved among members of the parliament.
“Talagang bawat isa ay gustong maglagay ng districts sa kanyang lugar, bawat isa, gustong dagdagan ang district, bawat probinsya, kaya talagang madugo, there would be very lengthy discussion that ensued in the passage of that previous district and in the like manner, ngayon din halos hindi sila magkasundo sa pagpapasa sa mga districts,” Sumalipao added.
(With reports from Efren Mamac, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)
