House OKs BARMM parliamentary elections on final reading, sets vote for September 2026

VOTING 247 in favor, with none opposed and two abstentions, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a measure setting the date of the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regionin Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in September 2026, as lawmakers moved to close the legal gap created by court rulings and keep the region’s transition to a duly elected Parliament on track.

- By JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ X@joveemarie

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos led the approval of House Bill (HB) 8220, the proposed measure providing for the date of the first regular parliamentary elections in BARMM.

Marcos said the bill seeks to keep the peace process anchored on a clear democratic mandate while giving election authorities the legal basis to begin preparations early.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, the main sponsor and author of the measure, said the bill is designed to ensure that the very first regular BARMM parliamentary elections can take placein the second Monday of September, with both chambers now positioned to align the final version once the Senate completes its own action.

“This bill protects the integrity of the transition by putting the first parliamentary elections on firm legal ground, so the people of Bangsamoro can finally choose their leaders through theballot,” Adiong, House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chairman, said.