Philippine Government Halts Printing of Ballots for Bangsamoro Elections Amid Postponement
On February 16, 2025, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced the suspension of ballot printing for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. This decision follows the approval by a bicameral conference committee to postpone the elections, originally scheduled for May 12, 2025, to October 13, 2025.
The postponement comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in September 2024 that excluded Sulu province from the BARMM, citing constitutional grounds. This exclusion has raised concerns about the allocation of parliamentary seats and the overall composition of the Bangsamoro Parliament. In response, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority adopted a resolution in October 2024, requesting the national Congress to delay the elections to address these issues.
Senate President Chiz Escudero introduced a bill in November 2024 proposing the deferment of the elections to May 11, 2026, to allow time for reconfiguration of jurisdictions and reallocation of parliamentary seats. Similarly, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong filed a corresponding bill in the House of Representatives.
While some civil society organizations and local officials, such as Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mariam Mangudadatu, have expressed opposition to the postponement, citing concerns over governance and the decommissioning process of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, others support the delay. Governors from Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi issued a joint statement in November 2024, emphasizing the need to address the distribution of parliamentary seats following Sulu's exclusion.
The COMELEC's suspension of ballot printing is a procedural step in line with the legislative move to reschedule the elections. As the situation develops, stakeholders continue to engage in discussions to ensure that the electoral process in the BARMM reflects the current political and territorial realities, aiming for a fair and representative parliamentary structure.
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