The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure postponing the first elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to May 2025 to give more time for the full transition in the region.
Voting 15-3-1, the chamber approved Senate Bill 2214, which also essentially extends the term of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority serving as the interim government of the BARMM under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
At present, the first BARMM elections are set to take place in May 2022, alongside the national and local elections.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the measure, recognized the need to extend the BARMM transition period in order to implement the political and normalization efforts in the region.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges in the execution of the programs and projects of the Bangsamoro government.
"The passage of this measure will allow us to continue working towards attaining peace in the region and fully realizing the promises of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro," Tolentino said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson voted against the passage of the measure, saying that since the BARMM was created through a plebiscite, it should be the Bangsamoro people who should decide whether the elections should be postponed or not.
The BARMM replaced the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified in 2019. It includes Cotabato City and 63 barangays in several municipalities in North Cotabato.
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