Tolling of the peace bells

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced last week it will proceed with the scheduled parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Oct. 13 this year.

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The seven-man poll body headed by Comelec Chairman George Garcia decided they will exclude seven district representatives of Sulu with its exit out of the BARMM.

Garcia explained the Comelec could no longer stretch the limits of its timetable waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on how the seven seats will be reallocated to the rest of the BARMM. This is with respect to the Supreme Court (SC) final ruling that upheld the exit of Sulu from the BARMM.

The 80-man BTA, as the interim legislative body of the BARMM, will be replaced by the same number of Parliament seats as mandated under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Originally, the BARMM Parliament polls were synchronized with the last May 12 mid-term elections.

Garcia cited information that the BTA chief minister has already signed the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 mandating the re-apportioning of the seven seats from Sulu. Garcia, however, echoed the Comelec's fears that the drafting of its IRR could further drag on and might again push back the holding of the BARMM Parliament polls.

The BARMM Parliament will cover the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato. As provided for under the BOL, 40 seats are for party representatives; 32 for district representatives and eight for sectoral representatives. Of the 80 seats provided for in the BOL, 41 of them will be the majority and will elect and install the first Chief Minister of the BARMM Parliament.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PBBM) signed earlier this year Republic Act (RA) No. 12123 that reset the BARMM Parliament elections to Oct. 13 this year.