December 1, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Bangsamoro regional government has issued a resolution to extend the transition period from 2025 to 2028.
Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, chief minister of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, said the BTA adopted Resolution 505 requesting the House of Representatives and the Senate to extend the transition period until 2028.
Ebrahim said postponing the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would give the regional government adequate time to address legal issues caused by the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM.
“The BTA remains committed to fulfilling its functions during the transition period, including enacting legislations that would serve as a foundation of a meaningful system of self-governance,” Ebrahim said during a House hearing on proposals to postpone the BARMM elections.
Nur-Ainee Tan Lim, deputy minister of the BARMM’s ministry of social services and development, said there is a need to educate voters first before holding the elections.
“How can we say that they will be able to choose the leaders they truly want, who would truly represent their interests when they don’t even know what they are voting for,” Lim said during the hearing.
Lim is head of the secretariat of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) peace coordinating committee.
Randolph Parcasio, spokesman for the MNLF and member of the BTA, stressed the significance of the BARMM elections in sustaining the gains of peace and development in the Bangsamoro region.
Parcasio said the election should be postponed and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front should continue leading the Bangsamoro government. He said the MNLF honors the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
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