BARMM parliament rushing new districting law

COTABATO CITY—Lawmakers of the Bangsamoro parliament are rushing the enactment of a bill seeking to create new parliamentary districts ahead of the first regional elections slated not later than March 31 next year.

Apart from the creation of parliamentary districts, two other election-related bills, filed before the parliament on Nov. 10, seeks to amend provisions of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code about the “none of the above” option in the regional ballot.

Member of Parliament (MP) Naguib Sinarimbo, chair of the parliament committee on local governments, said they were trying their best to draft a districting law as soon as possible.

The Supreme Court nullified two Bangsamoro regional laws that created 32 parliamentary districts, each of which is to have one representative in the regional legislature.

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 58 was nullified as it still included Sulu province in the allocation of seats. BAA 77 was nullified because, among others, it created districts in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur that were not adjacent. It also became law after the election period had already set in.

Legally sound

“We will try to come up with a districting law that goes through the process and is legally sound,” Sinarimbo told the Inquirer.

He said his committee had conducted several committee hearings and consultations to hear all sides.

MP Ishak Mastura also told the Inquirer that “a specific and realistic timetable for the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) on the districting [measure] will depend on Congress’ passage of a new law resetting the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) parliamentary elections.”

Mastura said the Supreme Court itself, in its decision, said: “With utmost respect, We urge the Members of Congress to exercise their legislative authority and promptly enact a law that would reschedule the BARMM Parliamentary Elections.”

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia, during the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms hearing, said it might be “extra difficult” for the poll body to prepare for the parliamentary elections on or before March 31, 2026, if the parliament fails to come up with a new law creating parliamentary districts by Nov. 30.

See Also

PH ranks 79th, down 6 spots, in Henley’s Passport Index 

Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said that “until and unless” the BARMM government passes this measure, the Comelec could not proceed with the filing of candidacies and print ballots in time for March 31, 2026, the deadline set by the high court to hold the elections.

Mastura agreed with De Lima, saying only Congress, not the Comelec, has power to set the date of balloting.

In the parliament, lawmakers filed Parliament Bill No. 411, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, in compliance with the Supreme Court directive for the BTA to enact a valid districting law before the conduct of the first regular parliamentary elections.

Three similar bills—PB Nos. 403, 407 and 408—were filed by lawmakers on Monday, the parliament’s media office reported.