Basilan solon: No comprehensive consultation on BARMM poll reset

MANILA, Philippines — Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has claimed that no wide-ranging consultation happened before the proposal to reschedule the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections was approved by the House of Representatives.

In his explanation of his negative vote to House Bill (HB) No. 11144, Hataman reminded the chamber that he called for calm when proposals to suspend the polls first surfaced—noting that there may be consultations in deliberating the matter.

However, Hataman noted that the BARMM residents’ sentiments were not obtained during discussions.

“[…] Nagpahayag ako sa publiko noong mga panahong iyon, naging mahinahon ako at nanawagan. Ang sabi ko, anumang pagtatangkang i-postpone ang halalan, dapat nakabatay sa malawakang konsultasyon ng ating mga kababayan. Dapat malinaw na sinusunod ang tinig ng karaniwang mamamayan. Hindi ito dapat pinagdedesisyunan ng iilang tao lamang sa loob ng mga de-aircon na silid sa ating bulwagan,” Hataman said.

“Ngayon, mahigit isang buwan ang nakalipas, malinaw naman siguro sa lahat: Walang naging malawakang konsultasyon. Hindi nakuhanan ng sentimyento ang populasyon ng ating rehiyon. Walang naging pagtitipon ng mga batayang sektor. Kung pagbabatayan ang mga lumabas na pahayag at resolusyon, Mr. Speaker, mga kasama, ang totoo pa nga, mukhang tutol ang nakararami sa ating mga kababayan sa pagpo-postpone ng eleksyon,” he added.

According to Hataman, former governor of BARMM’s precursor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, rescheduling the BARMM parliament polls from May 2025 to May 2026 would have great implications.

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This, he said, includes the desynchronization of BARMM polls from the national and midterm elections.

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“Bukod dito, maunawaan sana ng lahat ang mas malawak na implikasyon ng pagpo-postpone ng halalan. Kung hindi ito matutuloy, made-desynchronize ang BARMM elections at ang pambansang halalan; hindi sila magsasabay. At kung mangyari iyon, babalik ang pyudal na sistema kung saan kayang diktahan ng mga nasa Maynila ang takbo ng halalan sa Bangsamoro, na siya namang susuklian ng command votes ng mga magwawagi pagdating ng pambansang halalan,” he said.

“Babalik tayo sa siklo ng pagkapit sa kapangyarihan ng iilang personalidad at angkan. Bubuksan na naman natin ang pinto para maghari ang transaksyonalismo at patronage politics,” he added.

Earlier, HB No. 11144 was approved after 198 lawmakers present voted in the affirmative, with four in the negative, and no abstentions.

READ: House OKs bill resetting first BARMM polls on final reading

Under HB No. 11144, Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be amended to reset the first-ever polls to the second Monday of May 2026, instead of the original schedule of May 2025.

The bill also states that the terms of the officials in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will also be deemed expired after the effectivity of the proposed measure. After this, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will appoint 80 new interim members of the BTA who will “serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.”

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who was the bill’s principal author, hopes that the possible postponement of the polls would better prepare BARMM voters and candidates for the new processes.

“(I hope the postponement) would allow for more time for the promotion of broader participation from political parties and the electorate, and enhance their understanding of new electoral processes,” Romualdez said.

Last November 22, Marcos said the call to suspend the 2025 BARMM parliamentary elections was still being studied due to many Supreme Court decisions that would lead to implications.

Aside from Hataman, members from the House’s Makabayan bloc voted against the measure. According to Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas the Bangsamoro people are ready to vote for their leaders.

“The voters are ready to vote, and there are individuals ready to be voted. With the delay in the first-ever parliamentary elections in BARMM, the Moros are stripped of their right to pick their leaders,” she claimed.