Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The Bangsamoro government center in Cotabato City is lit up in green on January 22, 2022 to mark the region's third anniversary. BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Asnin Pendatun, handout, file.

Article (news)

The Bangsamoro government center in Cotabato City is lit up in green on January 22, 2022 to mark the region's third anniversary. BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Asnin Pendatun, handout, file. 

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday said they are open to holding a special election for the seven unallocated parliamentary seats in the Bangsamoro region, as the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has yet to resolve the issue.MILF chairman Ahod “Al Hajj Murad” Ebrahim and vice chairman Mohagher Iqbal visited the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros to seek assurance from Chairman George Garcia on the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections scheduled on October 13. They said Garcia told them the polls would not be postponed further.The seven seats were originally allocated to Sulu, which rejected the 2019 plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and that the Supreme Court has ruled is not part of the autonomous region.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/2/21/marcos-seeks-speedy-passage-of-bill-postponing-barmm-elections-1558">Marcos signs law postponing Bangsamoro elections</a></div>The reallocation of the seats was among the reasons given for postponing the elections, which would have been held in May.Ebrahim, former BTA chief minister and a former member of parliament, said the BTA is trying to comply with the reallocation of seats, which are specified in the Bangsamoro Organic Law that created the BARMM.&quot;Puwede rin na kung hindi na talaga makaya na isabay yung seven, baka magkaroon ng parang special election nalang later, okay naman yun,&quot; Ebrahim said, recounting the meeting with Comelec Chairman Garcia.(It might be that if the seven seats cannot be filled alongside the others, there might be a special election for them later)Iqbal, still a member of the BTA, said they are ready to submit the committee report on this to the parliament, which will discuss and vote on the proposal.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2024/11/27/bangsamoro-attorney-general-acknowledges-sc-ruling-excluding-sulu-from-barmm-1711">Bangsamoro attorney general acknowledges SC ruling excluding Sulu from BARMM </a></div>“So expect na, by next week may i-susumiti na po, officially submission po sa parliament and we can start the deliberation but there are still challenges,” he added. (You can expect that we will officially submit something to parliament and we can start the deliberations, but there are still challenges)Comelec earlier said they would push through with the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and that preparations are not affected by the pending allocation of the seven district seats. “These vacancies may be subsequently filled through presidential appointment or as may later be determined by a ruling of the Supreme Court or future legislation from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority or the Philippine Congress,” Comelec has said.

Comelec earlier said they would push through with the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and that preparations are not affected by the pending allocation of the seven seats.

Comelec earlier said they would push through with the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and that preparations are not affected by the pending allocation of the seven seats.

BARMM seats meant for Sulu may have to be filled in special election

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BARMM seats meant for Sulu may have to be filled in special election

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 18, 2025 12:26 AM PHT

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Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

Halalan 2025

Bangsamoro elections

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

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