COMELEC preparing for 2022 BARMM polls

THE COMMISSION on Elections (COMELEC) said it is not “jumping the gun” and still pushing through with the preparations for the 2022 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections despite on-going discussions of its postponement in Congress.

“Sa BARMM elections, on-going ang pag-uusap tungkol sa postponement ng BARMM elections. I think there are some very critical matters being discussed particularly ‘yung availability ng Bangsamoro Electoral Code as well as the completion of the districting of the Bangsamoro. Since the issues have not been resolved, kami sa COMELEC, tuloy-tuloy ang paghahanda natin. We cannot jump the gun. So tuloy-tuloy lang po tayo,” COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said.

The Senate is currently debating on the bill seeking to postpone the first regular elections in the BARMM from 2022 to 2025.

Senator Francis Tolentino, sponsor of Senate Bill 2214, cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a major challenge in accomplishing the priority programs and projects of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). “Despite all these strides, the BTA has yet to complete all its tasks under the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law). Thus, we are faced with the question of the propriety of extending the BTA term,” Tolentino said.

The BTA is supposed to oversee the BARMM until the May 2022 regional polls, which would be held simultaneous with the 2022 national and local elections. Malacañang said it leaves the decision on the BTA extension to Congress.

Sulu province and its people are also opposing the extension of the interim Bangsamoro government and BTA members.

GMA News also reported that BARMM interim officials and the governors of the 5 provinces in the region have yet to reach a consensus on the fate of the first regional elections set next year.

“Unfortunately, there still was no consensus at the end of the meeting and the President directed them all to meet as a Council of Leaders meeting and resolve the issue amongst themselves before having them come back to Malacañang for the final meeting with him,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters.

He said Duterte stood largely neutral on the postponement of the BARMM polls, weighing its pros and cons.

Zubiri said the BARMM officials explained that they have not been able to govern and take off due to the late appointment of the BTA members and the limitations brought about by the pandemic.

Sulu province and its people led by Governor Sakur Tan and Cotabato City have opposed the postponement of the polls, asserting the people’s right to suffrage in BARMM which was also acknowledged by Duterte. (GMA, Mindanao Examiner)