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MANILA, August 14, 2025 (SDN) — There are two things that will stop the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro region on October 13, according to Election Officer (EO) Atty. Mohammad Nabil Mutia.
One, if the Supreme Court issues a restraining order and, two, if Congress passes a law resetting or postponing for the third time the long-awaited political exercise, he points out.
“Otherwise, tuloy-tuloy and preparasyon. Ang mas malaking kasalanan ay kung hindi matuloy ang halalan sa Oktubre (preparation continues. It is a bigger sin if the election does not proceed),” Mutia says as quoted by the Bangsamoro Media Productions on its social media post.
He made the emphasis as the election period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has started today, Thursday; with the campaign season kicking off on August 28 until October 11 (Saturday).
The calendar of activities for the forthcoming historic political exercise is gleaned from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) online portal.
Here are the prohibited acts during the election period, per the poll body:
- Bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized in writing by the Commission (Gun Ban) (Sec. 32, R.A. No. 7166)
- Use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized in writing by the Commission (Sec. 33, R.A. No. 7166)
- Alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct (Sec. 5, R.A. 8189)
Transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, excepy upon prior approval of the Commission (Sec 261 [h], OEC) - Organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces (Sec. 261 [u], OEC);
Suspension of elective, provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer without prior approval of the Commission (Sec. 261 [x], OEC] - Illegal release of prisoners (Sec. 261 [n], OEC)
Mutia strongly asserted the parliamentary elections will post through, unless the Supreme Court comes up with a restraining order, or there’s a new law for another postponement and resetting.
It can be recalled the said election was supposed to be held in May 2022, but it was postponed and reset to May 2025, among the top reasons being the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic that started in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. That lockdowns that followed grounded to a halt many of life’s activities affecting governments, businesses, travel, and many others, including routine every day tasks.
Then the electoral exercise was postponed for the second time through Republic Act No. 12123 which President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed, mainly to take into account the Supreme Court’s removing the province of Sulu from the BARMM family.
There’s been new calls to postpone the polls for the third time but, so far, none has come out of it.
So, the Comelec has been saying the preparations continue and the elections will proceed, especially that the Bangsamoro Parliament has until now failed to pass a bill for the redistricting of the seven seats that Sulu has vacated.
Comprising the Bangsamoro region, established by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), are the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi; and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) made up of eight new municipalities carved out of the province of North Cotabato.
The BOL implements the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the Philippine Government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ending a protracted peace negotiations that lasted all of 17 years.
EO Mutia referenced Comelec Chair Geore Erwin Garcia’s “guidance”.
“It’s the guidance of Chairman Garcia, it is a go for the elections. We will conduct the elections at all costs…nothing more, nothing less.”
On the situation of Sulu, the MILF, its officials, have been very vocal in their desire to have the province reintegrates to the Bangsamoro region.
For example, MILF Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) Chair Mohagher M. Iqbal leaves no space for doubts about this unwavering stand.
“Let Sulu be returned to the BARMM, no matter how long it takes. This has always been my position,” he emphasizes.
He continues:
“If we ever reached this far, our consistency is one factor that made it possible.
“I talked to many legislators about this issue, including Senators Migz Zubiri, Robin Padilla, Vicente Sotto, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Rodante Marcoleta, Kiko Pangilinan, as well as some members of the House of Representatives. My sense is that they all see the logic of my view.
“Sulu is an indivisible part of the Bangsamoro homeland as well as the BARMM.”
Well, time will tell if Sulu would be returned to the Bangsamoro family. (√)