Joselito Malig

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson flagged Monday a potential constitutional infirmity in a bill proposing the scheduling of elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).While Lacson stressed he does not object to Senate Bill 1823, he cited a possible issue involving the constitutional mandate for synchronized national and local elections.&quot;At the outset, let me clarify that I am not objecting to the measure under consideration. Rather, this is a manifestation of concern, particularly on a potential Constitutional infirmity,&quot; he said in his interpellation of the Senate bill, where he pointed out that while Senate Bill 1823 set the elections in BARMM to &quot;the second Monday of September 2026 and every three years thereafter,&quot; a decision by the Supreme Court in 2011 (GR 196271 dated Oct. 18, 2011, Abas Kida vs Senate of the Philippines) affirmed synchronization as a recognized constitutional mandate.&quot;Ni-reaffirm ng Supreme Court ang (The Supreme Court affirmed the) constitutional mandate for synchronized national and local elections under the 1987 Constitution, recognizing synchronization as a core constitutional principle that shapes the structure of Filipino democratic governance,&quot; Lacson said.&quot;But under the measure (Senate Bill 1823), specifically Section 1 that seeks to amend Sec 13, Art 16 of RA 11054, the organic law of the BARMM, inaamin po natin na ginagawa nating second Monday of Sept 2026 and every three years thereafter. So does it mean na maging permanent ito maging every second Monday of September (Under Senate Bill 1823, specifically Sec. 1 that seeks to amend Sec. 13, Art. 16 of RA 11054... we are admitting that we will set the BARMM elections to the second Monday of September 2026 and every three years thereafter. So does it mean we will permanently hold elections in BARMM every second Monday of September)?&quot; he added. Lacson thus said he would propose during the period of amendments to the bill to allow the extension of terms of the current elected officials if this particular election will be held in September 2026.&quot;Let them extend their term of office until June 30, 2031,&quot; he noted.Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the sponsor of the proposed measure, agreed with Lacson&#x27;s point, saying that &quot;I accept that we synchronize it and I believe the good gentleman from Cavite has the perfect amendment.&quot;Before this, Senator Rodante Marcoleta also raised a concern on whether the proposed bill would comply with the Supreme Court ruling.&quot;Mr. President, I would like to seek clarifications regarding the legal readiness of the Bangsamoro electoral framework, particularly on districting, which is essential for the conduct of elections. We recall that Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts, BAA Numbers 58 and 77, were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in October 2025 because the parliamentary districts were not contiguous or adjacent, among other reasons.&quot; Marcoleta said, &quot;Without delving into the reasons for the missed deadline, Mr. President, I would like to be clarified what specific steps, legal reviews or consultations were undertaken to ensure that BAA 86 fully complies with the Supreme Court&#x27;s ruling, particularly on the requirements of contiguity and adjacency of districts.&quot;Zubiri explained that the issues raising in the court&#x27;s ruling were addressed — the first being gerrymandering.&quot;It showed clearly that one of the issues was the gerrymandering.&quot; Zubiri explained, &quot;Ibig sabihin may distrito po sila na nasa isang lugar, tapos may isang bayan, malayong malayo kasama sa distritong yun. So nagkaproblema po sila sa gerrymandering ika nga. It was not contiguous. They were able to resolve it under BAA 86, so yung mga malalayo ay isinama na doon sa kabilang distrito at di na po nila isinama.&quot;Zubiri said another issue that was addressed was the timing of the elections.&quot;Pangalawa, the violation under the law, which is 120 days, you cannot change the precincts within the 120 days prior to the elections. So ang nangyari po dyan, before October 2025, which is our law that we passed here, I believe it was Senator Imee Marcos who sponsored it, Republic Act 12123, which provided the date of election of October 2025. Ang nangyari po, lumabas itong BAA 77 prior, or after the 120 days was already starting. So, obviously, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, of course, not in accordance to the law that was passed on the electoral code, and also the gerrymandering. Those were the two main issues.&quot;&quot;So, dito po sa BAA 86, Mr. President, yung bagong amendments to the electoral code, ginawa po nilang maayos, na doon sa gerrymandering issue, inayos na po yan at kaya nga po pasok tayo sa 120 days kung gagawin po natin syang second Monday of September 2026. Which according to Chairman George at that time was enough time to be within the 120-day period,&quot; Zubiri added.&quot;So, I trust the wisdom of this new BAA86 to be compliant with the constitutional requirements brought about by the Supreme Court ruling. As a matter of fact, we had several legal luminaries during the hearing. As I mentioned, Justice Azcuna was there. And Justice Azcuna himself said that with these discussions, this was during the end of the committee hearing, Your Honor, after four hours of listening to both sides. Nagsalita po sya na he feels it will be compliant.&quot;Zubiri also expressed optimism that the election will not be affected by a challenge raised before the Supreme Court against the appointment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Chief Minister.&quot;Mr. President, a very urgent petition was filed before the Supreme Court asking the High Court to declare as unconstitutional the appointments of BTA Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, and five other BTA members. The petitioners argued that Article 16, Section 2 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law states that the MILF shall lead the BTA in recognition of its role in the peace process in Mindanao without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front. It is argued that the Bangsamoro Parliament is composed of 80 members all over the region, but only 34 MILF members were appointed, and that the MILF-endorsed members should be at least 41 instead of 34 for the legislative measures to prevail. Should the Supreme Court rule in favor of the petitioners and declare the appointments as unconstitutional, what will be its effect?&quot; Marcoleta asked.&quot;There will be an absence of authority, Mr. President. Kaya nga ang gusto ko po, my personal opinion kaya dapat magkaroon na ng halalan, because right now we are operating on a temporary state.&quot; Zubiri said, before adding it will not lead to a resetting of the election.&quot;Hindi naman po. &quot; Zubiri said, &quot;Ang mangyayari po kasi I believe that Malacanang will have to learn its lesson and will have to appoint 41 members of the MILF and other and more members of the MNLF. Their contention with me is that Chief Minister Macacua is a member of the MILF. Although maybe another faction, because they are also a faction, kasi nagpa-faction din po sila, and there&#x27;s of course the ideologue faction of Chairman Murad. So the only way to answer that, Your Honor, to be honest about it, and I think we all agree, let&#x27;s take it to a vote and let the people decide once and for all. I think that would be the best, Mr. President.&quot;<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UuwxSgsOKUw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson flagged Monday a potential constitutional infirmity in a bill proposing the scheduling of elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson flagged Monday a potential constitutional infirmity in a bill proposing the scheduling of elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Senators flag concerns over bill resetting Bangsamoro election schedule

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Senators flag concerns over bill resetting Bangsamoro election schedule

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 23, 2026 07:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Bangsamoro

Bangsamoro election

Panfilo Lacson

Juan Miguel Zubiri

Rodante Marcoleta

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