Article by:
Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – A newly enacted law resetting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections to September 2026 is expected to strengthen peace and self-governance in the region, senators said Thursday.
Republic Act 12317, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., sets the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections on the second Monday of September 2026 and aligns succeeding polls with the national and local elections beginning May 2031.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author and sponsor of the law, said the measure would transition the region toward a fully elected parliament with a direct mandate from the people.
“Kapag may tunay na mandato mula sa mga mamamayan… mas defined ang accountability, mas matatag ang demokrasya at mas malalim ang ugat ng kapayapaan (When leaders have a true mandate from the people… accountability is clearer, democracy is stronger and peace is more deeply rooted),” he said.
Zubiri said the law moves BARMM out of a prolonged transition period and allows its leaders to derive authority directly from the electorate.
He added that aligning BARMM elections with the national and local polls would promote stability, improve governance and support long-term development in the region.
Sen. Loren Legarda said the measure provides the Bangsamoro people with a clear and credible path to exercise their democratic rights and advance the political track of the peace process.
“This law carries both the weight of history and the promise of a better future. It affirms the right of the Bangsamoro people to freely choose their leaders and to strengthen a parliamentary government that reflects their aspirations. After decades of struggle and sacrifice, we move closer to a just and lasting peace,” she said.
Lawmakers are expecting the measure to reinforce democratic institutions and sustain peace efforts in Mindanao. (PNA)
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