BARMM lawmaker seeks postponement of 2025 parliament polls

A member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has called for the postponement of the first-ever regional parliamentary elections next year. BARMM parliament member Michael Midtimbang said Monday postponing the polls would allow time to amend Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 58, the law governing the creation of parliamentary districts. Midtimbang, who represents Maguindanao del Sur, filed Resolutions 631 and 632 on Sept. 20 following the recent Supreme Court ruling excluding Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He said the law should be revised to redistribute the seven parliamentary seats previously allocated to Sulu, ensuring fair representation for the remaining territories within BARMM. "Such amendments are crucial to ensure equitable representation and address the distinct needs of each district," Midtimbang said. His second resolution requests the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend the filing period for certificates of candidacy (COCs) to accommo date changes in parliamentary districts. "Additional time for this process will allow more potential candidates to participate, representing the region's diverse population," he said. Under BAA No. 58, BARMM voters will elect 80 parliament members-40 party-list representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives. Comelec has moved the COC filing period from Oct. 1-8 to Nov. 4-9 following the Supreme Court's decision. Source: Philippines News agency