The first-ever election in the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be held in 2025.
This after President Duterte signed last Thursday Republic Act 11593, which rescheduled the BARMM polls from 2022 to 2025.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the new legislation authorizes Duterte to appoint 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
Roque said the interim officials will serve up to June 30, 2021, or until their successors are elected or qualified.
The new law reiterated the mandate of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to promulgate the rules and regulations for the conduct of the BARMM polls.
Some members of the BTA pushed for a push back of the BARMM elections after their preparations for the activity were derailed by the pandemic.
RA 11593 will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in at least one newspaper of general circulation.
‘Most welcome’
In the Senate, Senator Francis Tolentino expressed gratitude to President Duterte for signing the law resetting the first regular elections in BARMM. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Tolentino sponsored the measure in the Senate.
“The approval is most welcome since a postponement is needed to achieve long and lasting peace in the region,” added Tolentino, adding that the approval of the law is also a testament of the government’s commitment to push for inclusive growth in the BARMM region.
The senator said the postponement would also ensure that all the agreements under the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are fulfilled.