FOUR political parties identified with the traditional politicians in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have asked Congress to consider resigned officials who have already filed their certificates of candidacies for the parliamentary elections 2025.
The four parties — Barmm Grand Coalition, Serbisyong Inklusibong Alyansa Progresibo (SIAP), Bangsamoro People’s Party (BPP), and Al Ittihad-Ungaya sa Kwagib nu Bangsamoro (AL ITTIHAD) also asked Congress to consider not to reappoint these public officials.
Among the Barmm officials named by the four political parties is Barmm interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, leader of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party. Ebrahim has been leading the region as a political appointee since 2019.
They said that a provision in the recently passed Bangsamoro Election Code allowing incumbent Bangsamoro Transition Authority members to file their COCs and continue to hold office is unconstitutional.
The two-page position paper was signed by Abdulrahman Rubbil Mangudadatu, President of BARMM Grand Coalition; Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, Chairman of Serbisyong Inklusibong Alyansa Progresibo (SIAP); Haron Datumanong Sakilan, Chairman of Bangsamoro People’s Party; and AL ITTIHAD Secretary General Mohajera Balaynan.
Bills have been filed before both chambers of Congress seeking postponement of the BARMM parliamentary elections following the Supreme Court ruling that the Sulu province is not part of BARMM.
Charlito Manlupig, board of trustees of Ideal Inc., an NGO, said NGOs will meet in Cotabato City on December 2, 2024, to discuss the developments on the Barmm elections.
Manlupig said there should be a debate to gather insights into the polls that would affect 2.3 million Bangsamoro residents.
