Election watchdogs warn against postponement of Bangsamoro polls

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

MANILA, Philippines — Several election watchdogs on Thursday warned against another postponement of the Bangsamoro polls and called for an immediate resolution to the legal issues that currently hinder the preparations for the region’s first parliamentary elections on Oct. 13.

“It is crucial to emphasize that repeated postponements of elections in the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) undermine the integrity of the electoral process and erode the public’s trust in elections as a vital means of citizen expression and representation in governance,” the Independent Election Monitoring Center (IEMC) said in a statement.

“IEMC strongly urges the Supreme Court, [the Commission on Elections] and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to immediately resolve the outstanding legal issues surrounding the regional parliamentary elections in the BARMM so that the elections can proceed on October 13, or at the earliest possible date thereafter,” it added.

READ: BARMM parliamentary polls postponed – Comelec chief

The IEMC is a recognized monitoring group of the Comelec for the BARMM polls.

It consists of the groups Institute for Autonomy and Governance, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp., Notre Dame University, Notre Dame of Midsayap College, Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency, Conflict and Climate Action Asia, and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Preparations for the BARMM elections were suspended by the Comelec on Wednesday after the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) enjoining the agency as well as the BTA from implementing the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77, pending the resolution of two cases questioning the law’s constitutionality.

BAA 77 was signed into law on Aug. 28 and amended BAA 58, redistributing the seven parliamentary districts initially allotted to Sulu province before the Supreme Court determined that it was not part of the BARMM.

The IEMC said that it supports the decision of the Comelec to halt preparations for the Bangsamoro polls until the Supreme Court clarifies the implications of the TRO against the implementation of BAA 77.

READ: In BARMM, ‘no election’ scenario worries gov’t

It added that the Comelec is “correct in asserting that neither BAA 77 nor the repealed BAA 58 can serve as a legal foundation for the parliamentary district elections scheduled for Oct. 13.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the Comelec stated that there is currently “no clear authority from the law” that would allow the agency to continue its poll preparations.

Although the TRO currently halts the implementation of BAA 77, the Comelec explained that this does not mean BAA 58 will take effect, as it has already been repealed due to the enactment of a new law.

Only a declaration of unconstitutionality of BAA 77 will revive BAA 58, according to the agency. /mr