A newly enacted law resetting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections to September 2026 is expected to strengthen peace and self-governance in the region, senators said Thursday.
Republic Act 12317, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., sets the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections on the second Monday of September 2026 and aligns succeeding polls with the national and local elections beginning May 2031.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author and sponsor of the law, said the measure would transition the region toward a fully elected parliament with a direct mandate from the people.
“Kapag may tunay na mandato mula sa mga mamamayan… mas defined ang accountability, mas matatag ang demokrasya at mas malalim ang ugat ng kapayapaan (When leaders have a true mandate from the people… accountability is clearer, democracy is stronger and peace is more deeply rooted),” he said.
Zubiri said the law moves BARMM out of a prolonged transition period and allows its leaders to derive authority directly from the electorate.
He added that aligning BARMM elections with the national and local polls would promote stability, improve governance and support long-term development in the region.
Sen. Loren Legarda said the measure provides the Bangsamoro people with a clear and credible path to exercise their democratic rights and advance the political track of the peace process.
“This law carries both the weight of history and the promise of a better future. It affirms the right of the Bangsamoro people to freely choose their leaders and to strengthen a parliamentary government that reflects their aspirations. After decades of struggle and sacrifice, we move closer to a just and lasting peace,” she said.
Lawmakers are expecting the measure to reinforce democratic institutions and sustain peace efforts in Mindanao.
OPAPRU
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) welcomed the law resetting the parliamentary elections.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., in a statement, extended gratitude to the Chief Executive for his “steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Bangsamoro peace process.”
“Time and again, he (President Marcos) has vowed to protect the sanctity of the peace process, which he describes as one of the cornerstones of his administration’s peace policy agenda,” Galvez said.
The OPAPRU chief also commended Congress, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House of Representatives Speaker Faustino Dy, for their “decisive action and sense of urgency” in passing this vital piece of legislation at this critical juncture in the BARMM’s transition process.
“We also thank the BARMM Government, headed by Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and the Members of Parliament, led by Speaker Mohammad Yacob, for effectively carrying out the affairs of governance and serving your people to the best of your abilities amidst the challenges that have come your way. You have truly demonstrated what genuine public service is,” he said.
Galvez said resetting the BARMM elections is not just a recalibration of timelines, but also a necessary and strategic step that will ensure that the first parliamentary elections in the region are held in a peaceful, orderly, and credible manner, which embodies the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for full self-governance and self-determination.
“These elections represent a historic milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, as they symbolize the region’s transformation from an area once plagued by armed conflict to an emerging show window of peace, progress, and development with a more stable, inclusive, and empowered governance structure,” he said.
“By allowing the necessary legal, institutional, and political conditions to be put in place, RA 12317 further strengthens the foundations of democratic, accountable and people-centered governance in the Bangsamoro and reinforces our collective commitment to fostering a just, lasting, and inclusive peace in the region” Galvez said.
“The OPAPRU remains fully committed to supporting all efforts that will ensure the successful conduct of the BARMM elections and the continued advancement of peace, reconciliation, and development in the region and beyond,” he added. (with reports from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)