CAMP ABUBAKAR, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE – DESPITE some calls to extend the tenure of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said they are determined to hold the first-ever parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) next year.
Speaking to reporters here at the base camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are currently deep in preparations for the BARMM elections, which will be simultaneously held with the May 2025 national and local polls.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, we are preparing for the first ever parliamentary elections in BARMM. The Bangsamoro election will be pushing through as far as the Comelec is concerned,” Garcia said.
Aside from the administrative and logistical preparations, the poll chief said they are also preparing for other challenges the BARMM polls may pose.
“We are really being vigilant over the BARMM parliamentary elections in 2025… The challenge remains in terms of vote buying, firearms, intimidation, and the perennial clan wars,” Garcia said.
Nevertheless, he said they are leaving the decision on the proposed extension for the BTA to the country’s political leaders.
“The decision for that matter is not with the Comelec. That is with the political authorities of the government,” he said.
For his part, BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim said they are no longer looking at the possible further extension of the BTA term as sought by some civil society organizations.
“We have accepted the reality that we already need to hold the elections in the BARMM. We are preparing our political party and for this coming elections,” said Ebrahim.
Earlier, a representative of the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) submitted to President Marcos Jr. a letter asking for another three-year BTA extension.
Marcos, however, has already said he is firm on pushing through with the scheduled 2025 BARMM elections.
