MANILA, Philippines – Tuluyan nang uusad ang nakatakdang halalan sa Bangsamoro Parliament matapos aprubahan ang bicameral conference committee report sa Senado na naghahawan sa matagal nang usapin sa rehiyon.
Sa pahayag, inihayag din ni Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri na bukod sa tuluyan nang susulong ang halalan, magsisilbi rin itong regalo sa kapatid na Muslim sa pagdiriwang ng Eid’l Fitr sa Biyernes, Marso 20, 2026.
“Now, I do have just one plea for whoever gets seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament this year: they have to make the most of their five-year term to help their region,” ayon kay Zubiri.
Nitong Martes, inaprubahan ng Senado ang bicameral conference committee report na magtatakda ng kauna-unahang regular BARMM parliamentary election, isang hakbang tungo sa pagsisimula ng naantalang botohan sa karapatan ng Bangsamoro na pumili ng kanilang sariling lider at umusad palabas ng transition period.
“To our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters, ito na po ang hinihintay ninyo. The promise of the Bangsamoro Organic Law was always to recognize the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination, and that includes the people’s right to choose their own leaders,” ayon kay Zubiri, principal author at sponsor ng Senate measure, sa ginanap na ratipikasyon ng bicam report.
“After years and years of delays, here it is, finally, it will happen. As Eid’l Fitr approaches, I hope this stands as a meaningful gift to our brothers and sisters in the BARMM, the long-awaited chance for them to choose their own leaders and help shape the future of their region,” aniya.
Ayon kay Zubiri, tubong Bukidnon: “The Senate’s action clears one of the last major legislative steps for the measure resetting the first BARMM parliamentary elections to September this year, while also aligning the succeeding elections with the national and local polls in May 2031 and every three years thereafter.”
Sinabi pa ni Zubiri na hindi lamang inilipat ang petsa ng halalan, kundi pinasimple ang timeline ng halalan at itinakda ang pag-assume sa tanggapan ng mga opisyal ng parlamento kaya’t binigyan ng mas malinaw at mas matagal na election cycle ang rehiyon matapos ang ilang buwan na legal at pulitikal na sigalot.
“In the Bicameral Conference Committee Report, we have simplified the BARMM election timeline by setting the first election to September this year, and the subsequent elections to coincide with the national and local elections on May 2031, and every three years thereafter,” giit ni Zubiri.
“Sa ganitong paraan, mababawasan po ang gastos natin sa BARMM election, dahil maisasabay na ito sa national and local elections, as we have always intended in the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Hindi na po natin kailangang hanapan pa ng budget ang COMELEC para makapag-hold ng standalone elections para lamang sa BARMM,” dagdag pa ni Zubiri.
Pinagtibay din sa bicam report ang pagtatalaga ng pag-upo sa puwesto ng mga opisyal ng parlamento, isa sa mahahalagang detalye na magbibigay kahulugan sa bagong regional institution na magsisimulang kumilos kapag naisagawa ang unang regular elections at pormal na maibigay ang transisyon sa halal na Parlamento.
“We have also settled the particularities of the assumption of office of parliamentary officials, specifying that they will take office on October 30 this year. By 2031, they will take office on June 30, same as most other elected officials in that same election year,” ayon kay Zubiri.
“Ginawa na po natin lahat. We’ve done our best. Politically, we have delivered, as a Senate, as a Congress, and as a nation. And now it’s time that the people elect true leaders who love their region. Hindi na pamumulitika. Kasi ito na po ang pagkakataon na magkakaroon ng first Parliament ang Bangsamoro region within a presidential system of government,” ani Zubiri. Ernie Reyes
