BARMM election code, IRR violate PH Constitution – Escudero
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. late Tuesday night to raise before the chief executive two questionable provisions of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) election code and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
In a press conference on Wednesday, Escudero detailed why he requested the meeting with Marcos.
“Let us remember our promise to our countrymen in the BARMM that we will have fair, equal, and honest elections. Because we saw in the BARMM election code and IRR that appointed officials who filed their COCs (certificates of candidacy) are not considered resigned,” Escudero said in Filipino.
He also said the contentious provisions indicate that even if the candidates lose in the upcoming elections, the one-year ban would not take effect, and they may still be appointed immediately.
“These two provisions are a clear violation of the Constitution,” Escudero said in Filipino.
He then pointed out that the Constitution states that any civil service officials — whether permanent or appointed in a coterminous capacity — are not allowed to join any partisan political activity and filing a COC is already a partisan political activity.
Article continues after this advertisement“Of the 40 members of the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority), 35 filed COCs. Only five did not file their COCs, so 35 out of 40 are now deemed resigned for filing their COCs alone,” Escudero said in Filipino.
Article continues after this advertisement“I met with President Marcos to tell him that if they are deemed resigned, we need to weigh in on who we will replace these BTA members. Again,35 out of 40,” he added.
According to Escudero, Marcos vowed to consider his proposal and they would decide on the matter as soon as possible.
“For me, it’s not only questionable, it is a clear violation and it does not have an effect on our Constitution as well as the law passed by Congress through the Omnibus Election Code,” the lawmaker added in Filipino.
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