2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election explained

Election Name:2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election
Country:Philippines
Flag Image:Flag of Bangsamoro.svg
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2016 Bangsamoro general election
Previous Year:2016
(as ARMM)
Outgoing Members:outgoing members (interim)
Elected Members:elected members
Next Year:Next
Seats For Election:All 80 seats to the Bangsamoro Parliament
(72 parliamentary district seats, 8 sectoral representatives)
Majority Seats:41
Election Date:May 12, 2025
1Blank:seats
2Blank:seats change
3Blank:seats before
4Blank:popular vote
Turnout:percentage
Leader1:Murad Ebrahim
Party1:UBJP
Seats1:TBD
Popular Vote1:TBD
Percentage1:TBD
Colour2:CC3F3D
Leader2:Suharto Mangudadatu
Party2:Al-Ittahad–UKB
Seats2:TBD
Popular Vote2:TBD
Percentage2:TBD
Leader3:Muslimin Sema
Party3:BaPa
Seats3:TBD
Popular Vote3:TBD
Percentage3:TBD
Colour4:024481
Leader4:Mujiv Hataman
Party4:BPP
Seats4:TBD
Popular Vote4:TBD
Percentage4:TBD
Colour5:612777
Leader5:Froilyn Mendoza
Party5:IPDP
Seats5:TBD
Popular Vote5:TBD
Percentage5:TBD
Colour6:FFFFFF
Leader6:Nur Misuari
Party6:Mahardika
Seats6:TBD
Popular Vote6:TBD
Percentage6:TBD
Colour7:FFFFFF
Leader7:Jose Lorena
Party7:RDP
Seats7:TBD
Popular Vote7:TBD
Percentage7:TBD
Colour8:064E13
Leader8:Mamintal Adiong Jr.
Party8:SIAP
Seats8:TBD
Popular Vote8:TBD
Percentage8:TBD
Map Size:450px
Chief Minister
Posttitle:Chief Minister after election
Before Election:Murad Ebrahim

The 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election is scheduled to take place in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on May 12 under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the charter of the autonomous region of the Philippines.

This election will be the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Parliament and was scheduled to be held in parallel with the 2022 Philippine general election. Elected officials would assume office on June 30, 2025. They would succeed the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament.

The postponement of the elections from 2022 to 2025, was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and consequentially the absence of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The interim regional government and advocacy groups in Mindanao successfully campaigned to move the date of the elections.

Background

Interim parliament

When Bangsamoro was formed in 2019, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority served as an interim government of the autonomous region, and also acted as its interim parliament. The interim government is not officially divided through political party affiliation but is instead divided into two groups according to the nominating entity; the majority are nominees of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, while the rest are nominees of the Philippine national government.[1]

Under the law which postponed the elections to 2025, the President of the Philippines may appoint a new set of members for the interim parliament whose term will run until June 30, 2025.[2]

Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament composition
Political groupSeats
Moro Islamic Liberation Front nominees
National Government nominees

Postponement

Originally scheduled to be held on May 9, 2022, the Bangsamoro Parliament elections was postponed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region was cited as justification, which led to the non-passage of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The electoral code would be the regional legislation that would define the parliamentary districts for the purpose of the regional elections. The electoral code would be legislated using data from the 2020 census which was likewise affected by the pandemic.[3] In order for the elections to be postponed, the Bangsamoro Organic Law needs to be amended.

The Bangsamoro interim government and some advocacy groups in Mindanao campaigned for the postponement of the polls.[4] [5] Interim Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim reasoned that three years is not enough to restructure the region's government, and that the COVID-19 pandemic and delays on the release of the region's budget caused the delay in the transition process. The postponement also received opposition. Kusug Tausug in the House of Representatives believed that postponing the elections tantamount to justifying the interim Bangsamoro government's performance which it found inadequate. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan also opposed the extension since he wanted elected officials to lead the region by 2022.[6]

In the Congress, there was a debate if it would be necessary to hold a plebiscite for the potential postponement of the Bangsamoro elections.[7] The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, amid talks on the possible postponement of the elections, wanted the polls to be "desynchronized" or be held in a different date from the national elections since a new electoral system would be used for the regional elections.[8]

The Senate approved on final reading Senate Bill No. 2214 on September 6, 2021, proposing the postponement of elections to 2025.[9] A counterpart bill in the House of Representatives was approved on September 15.[10] As the two bills were different, it had to be reconciled in a conference committee before being submitted for the president's signature for it to become law, and for it to actually postpone the election. While both bills gave the president of the Philippines the power to appoint the members for the 2019–2022 term, the House bill gave the incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte that power, while the Senate bill gave the winner of the 2022 presidential election that power.[11] In late September, both chambers ratified the conference committee's version of the bill, giving the winning president in the 2022 election the power to appoint the members of the next transitional parliament.[12]

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on October 28 the bill postponing the elections to 2025.[13] However Duterte's successor was given the ability still change the parliament's whole composition once they assume office.[14]

Second interim parliament

Duterte's successor President Bongbong Marcos appointed a new set of members for the interim parliament. 49 were reappointed while are 31 new members. The composition of 41 MILF nominees and 39 government nominees were still retained.[15]

Electoral system

A total of 80 seats will be contested in the 2025 Bangsamoro elections. The final composition of the parliament after the elections should satisfy the following:[16] [17]

The Bangsamoro parliamentary districts are yet to be constituted. The parliamentary districts will exist independently from the congressional districts used to determine representation in the national House of Representatives.[18]

The following is the distribution for the sectoral representatives seats:

The NMIPs, Traditional leaders, and Ulama representatives shall be elected in their own convention/assembly separate from the parliamentary elections. The names of the elected representatives should be submitted to the Commission on Elections seven days prior to the parliamentary elections and would be proclaimed simultaneously with the rest of the elected members of parliament.

Calendar

Timetable

ActivityStartEnd
Publication of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 35)[19] April 17, 2024
Filing of petition for registration of regional parliament political parties and regional parliament sectoral organizations[20] [21] May 15, 2024July 1, 2024
(extended from June 7, 2024[22])
Submission of Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS) to the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) and filing of registration or accreditation of a coalitionAugust 15, 2024 (deadline)
Sumbission of Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Parliamentary Election of party representativesAugust 30, 2024 (deadline)
Election dayMay 12, 2025

Parties

When the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) was asked in May 2021 if they would participate in the not-yet-postponed Bangsamoro elections, they said that they were "ready" but expressed preference that "there would be no election yet", so that they would keep focused on "the delivery of basic services" to residents of Bangsamoro. The UBJP is an affiliate of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose nominees form the majority of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament.[23]

On April 24, 2024, the Bangsamoro Peoples Party (BPP), the Al Ittihad-UKB Party and the Serbisyong Inklusibo–Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) formed a electoral alliance for the 2025 election.[24]

Eligible parties should have at least 10,000 members with chapters throughout the Bangsamoro region.[25]

Contesting parties

Eight parties have registered with the Commission on Elections as of March 2024.[26] No parties however has been accredited for the purpose of parliamentary election as of May 1, 2024 including the United Bangsamoro Justice Party. On May 18, 2024, Sulu governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan announced that he would forego another term as governor in the 2025 local election and challenge Murad Ebrahim as Chief Minister during a rally in Maimbung. He received support from the BARMM Grand Coalition.[27]

Sixteen political groups (including one coalition) sought accreditation for the purpose of parliamentary election [28]

Name!Leader!Affiliation/s
Al-Ittihad–UKB PartySuharto Mangudadatu
Amanat Democratic Party (ADP)
Partido Bangon Bangsamoro (PBMM)
Bangsamoro Federal Party
Bangsamoro Grand Coalition (BGC)[29] [30] Abdusakur Mahail TanAl-Ittihad–UKB Party
Bangsamoro People's Party
Salaam Partyy
Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party
Bangsamoro Party (BaPa)Muslimin SemaMoro National Liberation Front
Bangsamoro Peoples Democratic Party (Raayat)
Bangsamoro People's Party (BPP)Mujiv Hataman
Indigenous, Settler, Sama and Minorities Alliance Party (ISAMA)
Indigenous People's Democratic Party (IPDP)Froilyn MendozaLumad people
Mahardika PartyAbdulkarim Misuari
Nurredha Misuari[31]
Moro National Liberation Front
Moro Ako Party
Progresibong Bangsamoro Party (PRO Bangsamoro)
Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party (SIAP)Mamintal Adiong Jr.
United Advocates for Settler Communities
United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP)Murad EbrahimMoro Islamic Liberation Front

Sectoral representatives

Traditional leaders

The traditional leaders sector represent the royal sultanates in Bangsamoro.

Ulama

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sarmiento . Bong S. . Rep. Mangudadatu: MILF to still lead interim Bangsamoro gov't if transition period is extended . September 11, 2021 . MindaNews . July 7, 2021.
  2. News: Sarmiento . Bong . Duterte signs law postponing 2022 Bangsamoro polls to 2025 . October 29, 2021 . MindaNews . October 29, 2021.
  3. News: Ismael . Javier Joe . Senate agrees to postpone BARMM polls . September 11, 2021 . The Manila Times . August 27, 2021 . en.
  4. News: Rebollido . Rommel . Regional polls postponement to help build 'strong Bangsamoro region' – BARMM execs . September 11, 2021 . Rappler . September 4, 2021 . en.
  5. News: Advocates make 'last 2 minutes' effort to get BARMM transition extension . September 11, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . August 31, 2021 . en.
  6. News: de la Cruz . Jovee Marie . Medenilla . Samuel . House considers postponing first elections in BARMM . September 11, 2021 . BusinessMirror . June 28, 2021.
  7. News: No need for plebiscite to postpone BARMM elections – Tolentino . September 11, 2021 . Rappler . May 26, 2021 . en.
  8. News: Sarmiento . Bong S. . Poll watchdog wants BARMM polls desynchronized from 2022 polls . September 11, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . March 25, 2021 . en.
  9. News: Villaruel . Jauhn Etienne . Senate oks bill postponing BARMM election until 2025 . September 11, 2021 . ABS-CBN News . September 6, 2021.
  10. News: After Senate, House passes bill postponing 2022 BARMM elections . September 15, 2021 . Rappler . September 15, 2021.
  11. Web site: Barmm extension bill tracker: Postponement of polls to 2025 goes to bicam. September 15, 2021. pcij.org. en.
  12. Web site: Senate ratifies bicam report postponing 2022 BARMM polls. September 27, 2021. Rappler. September 27, 2021 . en.
  13. News: Galvez . Daphne . Duterte OKs postponement of first BARMM elections to 2025 . October 29, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . October 29, 2021 . en.
  14. News: Recuenco . Aaron . Duterte retains composition of Bangsamoro Transition Authority . 5 March 2022 . Manila Bulletin . 4 March 2022.
  15. News: Arguillas . Carolyn O. . Marcos to Bangsamoro Transition Authority: no more extension; election in 2025 . 13 August 2022 . MindaNews . 12 August 2022.
  16. Web site: Parliamentary & Electoral System . Access Bangsamoro . September 11, 2021 . September 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210911123319/https://accessbangsamoro.ph/parliamentary-and-electoral-system-overview/ . dead .
  17. Web site: Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023 . Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament . 11 March 2023.
  18. News: GMA News. Panti . Llanesca . BARMM's new parliamentary districts won't affect representation in House, says BTA member . June 22, 2019 . June 20, 2019.
  19. News: Sarmiento . Bong . Comelec asks BARMM political parties to get accreditation as Bangsamoro Electoral Code’s IRR finally out . 2 May 2024 . MindaNews . 1 May 2024.
  20. News: Medenilla . Samuel . Comelec sets timeline for 2025 Bangsamoro polls. 2 May 2024 . BusinessMirror . 2 May 2024.
  21. News: Saliring . Alwen . Residents urged to run for sectoral posts in first BARMM polls . 28 May 2024 . GMA Regional TV . 28 May 2024 . en.
  22. News: Locus . Sundy . Comelec extends accreditation period for political parties, sectoral groups for BARMM polls . 7 June 2024 . GMA News . 7 June 2024 . en.
  23. News: Solaiman . Taher G. . 11 Maguindanao mayors join MILF political party . May 13, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . May 13, 2021 . en.
  24. News: Cervantes . Filane Mikee . BARMM political parties form alliance to ensure peaceful 2025 polls . 25 April 2024 . Philippine News Agency . 25 April 2024.
  25. News: Bangsamoro leaders ask SC to nullify some provisions of region's election code . 21 August 2023 . The Philippine Star . 18 June 2023.
  26. News: Fernandez . Edwin . BARMM parties vow peaceful regional polls . 20 March 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 20 March 2024 . en.
  27. News: Gallardo . Froilan . Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan to challenge Murad in BARMM . 20 May 2024 . Rappler . 18 May 2024 . en.
  28. News: Cabato . Luisa . BARMM polls: 16 political, 1,500 sectoral orgs seek accreditation . 16 August 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 2 July 2024 . en.
  29. News: Bacongo . Keith . Cracks, alliances surface ahead of BARMM elections in 2025 . 4 May 2024 . Manila Bulletin . 29 April 2024 . en.
  30. News: Gallardo . Froilan . Coalition party in 2025 Bangsamoro polls flexes political muscles in Marawi . 4 May 2024 . MindaNews . 29 April 2024.
  31. News: Cabrera . Ferdinandh . Misuari group mobilizes, organizes own party ahead of BARMM elections . 28 June 2024 . Rappler . 25 June 2024.