BARMM misses poll body’s deadline on redistricting law

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) failed to pass the new redistricting bill on the deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Nov. 30, although its spokesperson and floor leader assured that the bill would be passed before the end of the year.

Member of Parliament and BTA Floor Leader John Anthony “Jet” Lim said the BTA was working hard to enact the redistricting law, critical for the holding of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) next year.

“As part of its transitional mandate, the BTA Parliament has been working with diligence, transparency and broad public participation to enact the [re]districting law,” Lim said in a statement.

READ: Bangsamoro parliament urged to pass redistricting law by Nov. 30

Six versions of the redistricting bill were already introduced to the Parliament during its regular session on Nov. 27 and have been referred to the appropriate committees for study and consolidation.

According to Lim, the first public consultation for these bills was conducted in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on Nov. 6, while the succeeding two consultations have been scheduled on Dec. 4 for the Special Geographic Area, Maguindanao del Sur and Basilan; and on Dec. 7 for Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Cotabato City.

“The Parliament is committed to an inclusive, transparent and legally compliant [re]districting process and aims to complete and pass the districting law by December 2025, in line with the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Lim said.

He said that aside from passing the new redistricting law, the Parliament was also deliberating on the proposed BARMM budget for 2026 to ensure the continued delivery of essential programs and services. “Managing both the districting measure and the regional budget reflects our commitment to responsible governance and uninterrupted public service,” he said.

High court ruling

The first BARMM parliamentary elections, previously set on Oct. 13 this year, were postponed after the Supreme Court ruled the two redistricting laws of the BARMM unconstitutional, prompting the Comelec to ask the BTA to craft a new law on or before Nov. 30 this year.

The Comelec has earlier raised concern that it would be difficult for the poll body to mount the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro if the new redistricting law failed to pass by Nov. 30, as it will have to print new ballots and will require new logistics to mount the polls.

Comelec Chair George Garcia has earlier said the BARMM election may risk being postponed once again or being conducted differently if the preparations before the set election date are not met.

The BTA had previously passed the redistricting law (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77) needed for the conduct of the regional polls slated last Oct. 13, by redistributing to other provinces the seats originally intended for Sulu, which has been excluded from the Bangsamoro.

However, BAA 77 was invalidated by the Supreme Court due to various infirmities, mainly “violating the Bangsamoro Organic Law’s requirement that each district should comprise adjacent and adjoining areas as far as practicable.”

The high court instead directed the BTA to enact a new redistricting law and moved the Oct. 13 elections to not later than March 31, 2026. /cb