Bangsamoro Parliament yet to decide on reapportionment of Sulu seats

MANILA, Philippines — The parliament of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is yet to decide on the reapportionment, or the transfer, of seats allotted for Sulu to the remaining provinces in the region, its interim chief minister said on Thursday.

BARMM Interim Chief Minister and Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulraof Macacua made the remark as he paid a courtesy visit to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia at the poll body headquarters in Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.

“That’s yet to be discussed by the panel of parliament who will file in the side of the government of the day,” Macacua said in a press conference when asked if the parliament has already decided as to which provinces would gain the seven seats of Sulu.

“Government of the Day” refers to the Bangsamoro cabinet headed by the chief minister, and composed of other ministers he appointed.

However, Macacua said there is already a parliamentary bill filed regarding the reapportionment of Sulu seats.

It can be recalled that Sulu voted against the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) so the Supreme Court ruled that the province is not part of the BARMM.

Sulu’s departure from the autonomous region meant that its seven seats among the 80-member parliament became vacant, making the reapportionment necessary in compliance with the BOL.

The first-ever BARMM parliamentary polls has since been postponed.

The certificate of candidacy filing for the postponed BARRM polls could only be reopened on areas affected by the reapportionment of seats for the Province of Sulu, Garcia previously said.

READ: ‘Reopening of BARMM COC filing likely in areas affected by Sulu issue’