Senate Office of the cecetary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEC -9 P5:53 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. - 1587 Introduced by SENATOR JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI AN ACT RESETTING THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTIONS IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13, ARTICLE XVI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO" EXPLANATORY NOTE The Supreme Court in Lanang T. Ali v. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament and Abdullah G. Macapaar v. COMELEC, (G.R. No. E-02219 and G.R. No. E-02235, 30 September 2025), underscored that the "right to vote is among the most sacred freedoms in a democratic society, one that must be most vigilantly guarded". The Court, however, likewise emphasized that the validity of elections does not depend on the people's right to suffrage alone, but equally on the practical readiness of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to conduct a credible, orderly, and legitimate electoral exercise. As the Court cautioned, "an election held in haste defiles the people's right to vote." In the same Decision, the Supreme Court nullified Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77, the districting laws passed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), for being unconstitutional. BAA 77, enacted only in August 2025, barely a month before the scheduled 13 October 2025 elections sought to reorganize the parliamentary districts in light of the Court's earlier ruling in Province of Sulu v. PHILCONSA, G.R. No. 242255, 26 November 2024, excluding the Province of Sulu from the BARMM. Because these laws were passed without adequate factual and legal basis and violated constitutional and statutory requirements on redistricting, the Court ordered the postponement of the October 2025 BARMM Parliamentary Elections. It directed the BTA to complete, not later than 30 October 2025, the determination of parliamentary districts for the first regular elections for the members of the BARMM Parliament strictly following the criteria set forth in the Bangsamoro Organic Law and in the Court's Decision in G.R. No. E-02219 and G.R. No. E-02235. Regrettably, the BTA failed to enact a constitutionally compliant redistricting law within the deadline set by the Supreme Court and subsequently missed the extended deadline imposed by COMELEC on 30 November 2025. Given the totality of these circumstances, the Supreme Court expressly urged Congress to exercise its legislative authority and promptly enact a law rescheduling the
BARMM Parliamentary Elections to avoid further legal infirmities and protect the integrity of the electoral process. This bill responds to the Supreme Court's call. It recognizes that proceeding with elections at this time would be consistent with the constitutional standards of free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections. A legislative adjustment to the election date is both prudent and necessary to: 1. Ensure compliance with constitutional requirements on districting and representation; 2. Provide COMELEC sufficient time to prepare for the unique parliamentary electoral system of the BARMM; 3. Allow the BTA to enact a valid and well-studied districting law, free from the defects that previously led to judicial invalidation; 4. Enable voter and stakeholder education on the parliamentary system and its implications for governance; and 5. Safeguard the legitimacy and stability of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament, which will serve as a cornerstone of regional self-governance. Accordingly, this measure proposes that the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections be held on Monday, 30 March 2026, consistent with the Supreme Court's directive and in alignment with COMELEC's operational timelines. Fixing the election within this timeline ensures that the process is conducted with integrity, order, and meaningful public participation, while allowing the transition period to conclude within a reasonable and legally sound period. The dignity, democratic aspirations, and long struggle of the Bangsamoro people for meaningful autonomy demand nothing less than a credible, legitimate, and constitutionally sound first parliamentary election. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI
Sentate Office of the sacretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session DEC -9 P5:53 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1587 Introduced by SENATOR JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI AN ACT RESETTING THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTIONS IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13, ARTICLE XVI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11054, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 13, Article XVI, of Republic Act No. 11054, otherwise known
as the "Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 13. First Regular Election.- The first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government under this Organic Law shall be held on Monday, 30 March 2026. The next election shall be held and synchronized with the 2028 national elections and every three (3) years thereafter. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, shall promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections, enforce and administer, and administer them pursuant to national law, this Organic Law and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The term of office of the officials first elected shall commence at noon of the 30th day of April next following their election."
Sec. 2. During the extension of the Transition Period, the Bangsamoro Transition
Authority (BTA) shall continue as the interim government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), unless such interim members are replaced by the President or their tenure is shortened by their election to a different office. The interim members of the BTA shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in an automated election.
Sec. 3. Any amount obligated prior to the resetting of the Bangsamoro Election
shall remain valid. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the COMELEC or any available appropriations as may be identified by the DBM subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual budget preparation process.
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
8 publication in the Officia/ Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,