It will be postponed until a new date has been set by law.
In a decision by the the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) En Banc last Wednesday, January 28, it announced that the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be deferred.
Promulgated under COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 26-0071, the elections will be indefinitely postponed until a new date has been fixed by law.
According to them based on yhe timelines on the preliminary activities, the election timeline is already “too proximate,” which rendered the conduct of the BARMM Parliamentary Elections “no longer feasible.”
There are also varied legal implications such as, the effectivity of Parliament Bill No. 415 falls well within the prohibition of Republic Act No. 8189 (The Voters Registration Act of 1996) which proscribes the alteration of a precinct at the start of the Election Period.
Also, the conduct of Assemblies and Conventions for the election of Parliamentary Sectoral Representatives cannot proceed until the date of the elections is set pursuant to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the cases of Ali, Jr. v. BTA and COMELEC and Macapaar v. BТА and COMELEC.
Hence, the commission will set aside and terminate all activities under COMELEC Resolution Nos. 11181 and 11184, which state let the Calendar of Activities and Period of Certain Prohibited Acts in connection with the BARMM Parliamentary Elections and the conduct of Assemblies and Conventions for the Election of Parliamentary Sectorial Representatives
MALACAÑANG REACTS
Following this, the Palace noted the President’s reaction to the decision of the board to once again postpone the BARMM elections.
Castro said in the Press Briefing on Thursday, January 29, that the President understands that if holding the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible and may violate existing laws, adding that the postponement is a reasonable decision.
“Gustung-gusto talaga ng Pangulo na matuloy ang eleksyon pero if (there are) time constraints at hindi maipapatupad at dahil makakalabag din ng batas, hindi rin naman nanaisin ng Pangulo na maituloy ang eleksyon kung may malalabag na batas,” said Castro.
The official continued, “Kung makikita naman ng Pangulo ang mga dahilan na ito, hindi talagang maaaring maipatupad muli agad-agad ang elections ngayong March at kung ito naman ay lalabag din sa batas katulad ng sinasabi ng Comelec, maaari talaga siyang ma-postpone.”