Bangsamoro election law urgency cited as final step to BARMM's first elected parliament

Philstar.com

January 20, 2026 | 10:03am

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has underscored the urgency of passing the Bangsamoro election law, describing it as the final legal requirement  for holding the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and for completing the region’s transition to fully elected self-governance.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. said the measure is critical to ensuring credible and inclusive elections at the earliest legally feasible time, marking the shift from the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority to a democratically elected parliament.

Lagdameo cautioned that failure to meet the remaining legal requirements could result in further delays, echoing earlier advisories from the Commission on Elections that any postponement would necessitate setting a new election date within 2026 to avoid conflicts with preparations for the 2028 national elections.

“The first BARMM Parliamentary Elections will be a historic moment not just for the region but for the entire nation. It is an opportunity for the Bangsamoro to shape their parliament directly and to prove that democracy here is strong and that leadership is truly accountable to the people,” Lagdameo said.

His remarks echoed the position of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has repeatedly stressed that the enactment and conduct of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections are essential to regional independence and the success of the peace process, emphasizing that failure “is not an option.”

“If the election fails, that will be a big failure in the peace process, that’s why the Bangsamoro elections need to be successful. Failed BARMM polls not an option,” the President earlier said in a statement.

A major legal hurdle was cleared on January 13 after the BTA Parliament approved BTA Bill No. 415, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2025, which establishes 32 single-member parliamentary districts — a constitutional requirement for the elections to proceed. The bill was approved following a 10-hour session, with 48 votes in favor, 19 against, and four abstentions.

Under the law, nine districts were allocated to Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City; five each to Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur; four each to Basilan and Tawi-Tawi; three to Cotabato City; and two to the Special Geographic Area. The measure complies with constitutional standards and aligns with a 2025 Supreme Court ruling that voided an earlier districting law and excluded Sulu from BARMM.

With the districting law now in place, COMELEC is expected to proceed with full election preparations. The polls will elect 32 district representatives, alongside 40 party-list and eight sectoral representatives, forming the first 80-member regular Bangsamoro Parliament.