President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the importance of the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections, calling them critical to sustaining peace, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that regional leadership truly reflects the will of the people.
Speaking at the 7th BARMM Foundation Day at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, President Marcos said the polls would provide Bangsamoro residents with a vital platform to freely express their aspirations and help entrench democratic governance in the region.
“It is our hope that the upcoming BARMM elections will serve as an opportunity for our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to freely express their voices and aspirations,” Mr. Marcos said.
The BARMM elections were originally postponed from 2025 following Supreme Court rulings on districting laws and adjustments required to ensure constitutional compliance.
The President said the next phase of the Bangsamoro government’s development depends on leaders chosen through a credible and participatory electoral process, adding that accountable governance should be the legacy passed on to future generations.
He described BARMM as uniquely positioned to build institutions “from a blank sheet of paper,” allowing elected leaders to design efficient systems, promote ease of doing business, and avoid regulatory practices that have hindered development elsewhere.
He vowed that his administration would continue to support BARMM throughout the transition, stressing that cooperation between Manila and the regional government is essential as the region moves toward a fully elected leadership.
A bill was filed on Wednesday amending the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act 11054) to reset the date of the first regular parliamentary elections in BARMM to September 28, 2026.
House Bill 7236, filed by Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman “Z” Alonto Adiong, seeks to fill the legal gap created by recent Supreme Court rulings, including the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM and the invalidation of prior redistricting laws such as Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts Nos. 58 and 77.
By addressing this statutory gap, Adiong, chair of the House committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, said the bill ensures that the first BARMM parliamentary elections can proceed in a peaceful, orderly, and fully lawful manner, in full compliance with the Constitution, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and prevailing jurisprudence.
Adiong also expressed appreciation to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament for passing Parliament Bill 415, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2025, on third and final reading. The law establishes 32 single-member parliamentary districts in BARMM, an essential prerequisite for a lawful and peaceful electoral process.
“The allocation of 32 districts—nine in Lanao del Sur, five each in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, four each in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, three in Cotabato City, and two in the Special Geographic Area—will help guarantee that every voice in the Bangsamoro is heard in a truly inclusive Parliament.”
“This bill is crucial to preserve the integrity of the Bangsamoro peace process and to deliver a lawful, transparent, and democratic transition to a fully elected Parliament,” Adiong added. “By resetting the election date, we give the Commission on Elections sufficient time to prepare, redraw precincts based on the new districts, and conduct a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral exercise.”
The salient features of the bill include:
Setting the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections on September 28, 2026, with subsequent elections synchronized with the 2028 national and local polls and held every three years thereafter;
Extending the transition period, allowing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to continue as the interim government until elected successors assume office;
Utilizing the automated election system from the May 12, 2025 national and local elections for consistency and integrity, with Comelec authorized to explore alternatives if necessary;
Reopening the filing period for certificates of candidacy and sectoral manifestations of intent to ensure broader participation; and
Confirming voter eligibility based on the latest permanent registration list and setting the assumption of office for winning candidates on December 1, 2026.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Bangsamoro people experience elections that are peaceful, orderly, lawful, and truly reflective of their will,” Adiong said.
