President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs law postponing BARMM polls to Oct. 13, 2025
Newly appointed BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua urged the Bangsamoro Parliament to act on priority legislation ahead of the autonomous region’s parliamentary elections in October.
The parliament opened its fourth regular session on April 8.
“We do not have the luxury of delay. What we do in the coming months will define this parliament’s legacy. It will shape how the people remember our stewardship of transition and how they look to the Bangsamoro Parliament,” Macacua told Members of Parliament (MPs) during the ceremonial opening in Cotabato City.
Topping Macacua’s list is the reappropriation of the region’s parliamentary districts, seven of which were left vacant after the Supreme Court excluded Sulu province the region.
Next on the list is the Bangsamoro Revenue Code, the sole remaining priority legislation yet to be enacted by the Parliament.
Here is the full list:
- Reappropriation of the seven district seats previously allotted for Sulu;
- Bangsamoro Revenue Code;
- Budget System Law;
- Energy Development Corporation of the Bangsamoro;
- Bangsamoro Gender and Development Code;
- Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities in BARMM;
- Bangsamoro Labor Code;
- Bangsamoro Code of Muslim Personal Laws;
- Bangsamoro Investment Code;
- Institutionalization of da’wah in BARMM governance;
- Lake Lanao Rehabilitation and Development Authority; and
- Regional Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Mechanism.
It’s crunch time for MPs, also known as members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), who have at least 19 session days left to deliberate and finalize these measures before parliament adjourns on August 28.
The BTA has been tasked with enacting laws for the six-year-old BARMM and guiding its transition to a post-conflict society. The regional polls in October will mark the end of the transition, as elected individuals are set to replace the appointed members.
The 80-seat body currently has one vacancy after former chief minister Ahod “Al Hadj Murad” Ebrahim declined his appointment. He is also the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. attended the ceremony. He said Ebrahim will recommend a replacement to fill the vacant seat.
Macacua maintained that the interim government remains to be led by the MILF, in keeping with the Bangsamoro Organic Law. He also vowed to “never lead with partiality” and instead “will lead with fairness and deep respect for everyone’s voice in this Parliament.” — Guinevere Latoza/PCIJ.org
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