Bill resetting BARMM polls to May 2026 hurdles second reading

A bill seeking to postpone the first elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 2025 to May 2026 hurdled the second reading in the House of Representatives on Monday. 

House Bill 11144, approved via viva voce, proposes rescheduling the 12 May 2025 polls to 11 May 2026 to provide additional time for the BARMM to address various legal issues, including the recent ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) that excluded Sulu from BARMM. 

Proponents of the bill argue that postponing the first parliament polls would also allow the autonomous region to have a broad understanding of the new electoral process. 

Under the proposed law, the President would appoint 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), to serve until their successors are elected and qualified. 

The term of the current BTA members would end upon the law's enactment. 

The measure seeks to amend Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act 11054 or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” mandating the resetting of the elections on the second Monday of May 2026 and every three years thereafter. 

The bill had earlier cited the potential implications of the SC decision on the composition of the BARMM Parliament and in the preparations for the upcoming 2025 elections, considering pending petitions to reintegrate Sulu into the Bangsamoro Region.

The initial schedule for the BARMM polls were to coincide with the 2025 mid-term polls.

However, the BTA had appealed to Congress to move BARMM polls to 2028—coinciding with the national elections—citing legal and administrative challenges presently confronting the region, including the SC verdict.

Last month, the SC declared its decision is final and immediately executory, closing the door on further pleadings.

The exclusion of Sulu leaves seven seats vacant out of the 80 district seats reserved in the BARMM.

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia previously raised concerns about how the seats would be filled, given the law's requirement for a full parliament of 80 seats.

Nevertheless, the poll body said it would abide by Congress’ discretion.

The Institute for Autonomy and Governance and the Climate and Conflict Action have petitioned Congress to reconsider postponing the BARMM polls, warning of potential repercussions for the peace process and security in the region.

In the Senate, President Franciz Escudero filed a counterpart bill in the upper chamber, enabling BARMM to reconfigure its jurisdictions and reallocate the seats of its 80-member parliament following the SC ruling.