BARMM chief denies push to delay region’s parliamentary polls again

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BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua says such allegations are unfair, especially since a postponement would naturally benefit him by way of term extension

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua on Tuesday, June 16, dismissed claims of maneuverings to delay the region’s first parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 13.

Macacua said such allegations were unfair, especially since a postponement would naturally benefit him by way of term extension.

Speaking during the oathtaking of newly elected officials of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte at the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex in Cotabato City, Macacua urged his partymate, BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, to name those allegedly pushing for a delay.

“Can you please name the people, as you claim, who are pushing for the election not to proceed?” Macacua asked. “Because as long as they are not named, the suspect pushing to postpone the election will be me. Because I am the beneficiary of the postponement of the election.”

Macacua’s remarks came after a press conference in which Iqbal and Senator Imee Marcos warned against another delay in the BARMM elections and urged Congress to oppose it. Iqbal has yet to name anyone as of posting time.

“My position is that the election should continue,” Macacua said.

The predominantly Muslim region’s parliamentary elections were initially set to coincide with the May 2025 national and local midterm polls but were moved to October, following a law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in February. It was the second postponement since 2022, when then-president Rodrigo Duterte moved the region’s parliamentary polls to 2025 and extended the Bangsamoro transition period.

The latest delay stemmed from a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu province from the BARMM, creating a legal hurdle for the elections.

Sulu, which has seven districts, was excluded after the high court upheld the results of a 2019 plebiscite in which most voters in the province rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which created the BARMM.

As a result, the seven seats previously allocated to Sulu remain vacant, reducing the BARMM parliament’s membership to 73, short of the 80 required under the BOL.

To resolve the issue, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has moved to reallocate the vacant seats and create new parliamentary districts, an effort that requires consultations and more time. BARMM lawmakers are still debating the proposals as of posting time. – Rappler.com